Hyderabad: The first phase of the Hyderabad Metro will be completed by mid next year, except the old city metro, which would take three years from the time work is grounded, HMR MD NVS Reddy said.
“While we are targeting completion of Ameerpet to Hitec city by December 15, corridor 2 from JBS to MGBS will be completed only by the second half of next year. There is a certain part left which is in the old city, which is 5.5 kms from MGBS to Falaknuma. Survey for this stretch has started and markings of selected properties are going on and property acquisition needs to be done. This will take three years to complete,” NVS Reddy said.
The Hyderabad Metro Rail will also establish connectivity between Nagole to LB Nagar. On the other hand, HMR is waiting for the Detailed Project Report for Phase 2, which is likely to be made available for official review in a fortnight.
“The DPR of Phase 2 is in the final stages and based on internal discussions it will be forwarded to the government. However, due to early elections, we need to find out how it goes through, as the state government’s approval is needed,” he told this newspaper.
As part of Phase 2, airport connectivity from all parts of the city, especially the Western and Eastern parts will be established. HMR has been told to give priority to connecting the airport from the western part of the city, which is Raidurgam to the airport. “For Phase 2, hardly any land acquisition is required. Another most important line is BHEL to Miyapur via the old Mumbai Highway to Lakdikapool. Nagole to LB Nagar will also be connected,” Reddy said.
For Phase 2, HMR may look at various domestic and foreign options available to mobilise funds.
For Phase 1, L&T Metro is likely to invest an additional Rs 2500 crore to complete the ongoing Hyderabad metro rail project, said L&T Metro MD KVB Reddy. This is apart from the Rs 13,000 crore already invested by the firm. While the firm has set apart Rs 3000 crore as equity, the project annually has about Rs 1200 crore interest burden.
