Hyderabad: The acquisition of properties for Metro Rail at Begumpet and Ameerpet has seen a major slowdown in the last two months. The demolition machine has been lying on the road since the last four months near RAK Ceramics in Begumpet to demolish the building but the process of acquiring the land is still not complete.
Similarly, there are government properties at Ameerpet and Madhapur which have still not been acquired despite several reminders.
A senior government officer said, “The works have been pending for long. Chief Secretary Rajeev Sharma has asked twice for a meeting for the acquisition of properties and for discussing and clearing hurdles. But the list of properties to be acquired is not forthcoming. Since the last two months only two properties have been acquired. All others are pending.”
L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail has been raising issues connected with acquisition from time to time at meetings. According to a senior officer, “We have been constantly referring to the Padma Hansa Apartments at Secunderabad, Sree Sampata Building at Hi-tech city and other government properties which have not been handed over. These blocks are creating a major problem and bringing work, man and machinery to a halt. Once machines are brought to the worksite it is not possible to take them back until the works are completed. So there is no option but to keep them around. This is escalating costs. Hence there is constant pressure to acquire the properties.”
The weekly meetings have now become less due to the festival season and also due to time constraints of senior officials.
This has halted updates on the acquisition process and officers allege that it will make the departments further lax.
Hyderabad Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy refused to comment on the delay in the process to acquire properties slated for demolition.
