Hyderabad: Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) has decided to recover every penny it has spent on beautification of metro stations. One way of doing that is setting up kiosks and leasing them out for commercial activities. But this would further eat up the footpath space and force pedestrians to walk on busy roads.
This is to be first executed in corridor-III from Nagole to Miyapur and Ameerpet to Hitec City, in 30 metro stations. Surprisingly, HMRL has demolished around 50 bus shelters on the same stretch claiming that the design was not on par with the world class metro project. Bus shelter locations identified by the corporation cater to about 37 lakh commuters.
According HMRL director NVS Reddy, about Rs 2 crore on average has been spent on beautification of pavements at each metro station.
To make the project viable and self sustainable, HMRL will set up several kiosks at outside the metro stations. He said the kiosks will be constructed in such a way that pedestrians can pass through them and about 10 feet width and eight feet height will be left for easy passage.
The lease amounts will be fixed based on the location of the metro station.
The kiosk holders will be permitted to run a variety of businesses, ranging from vegetable vending to pizza selling. The kiosks will be opened outside 30 metro stations in corridor-III, starting from the busy and extremely narrow pavement at Hitec City metro station.
“Such kiosks are available in Singapore. They will add additional glory to the existing metro stations,” said a HMRL official.
Highly placed sources in HMRL said the kiosks have no connection with L&T since the footpath is government property.
A GHMC official claimed that finding fault with the bus shelter design of the GHMC, HMRL has already demolished bus shelters near Madhapur police station, CCMB in Hubsiguda, Peddamma temple in Jubilee Hills, Kavuri Hills and Serilingampally routes.
It also demolished 50 bus shelters in LB Nagar-Miyapur, Nagole Hitec city, JBS-MGBS stretches. HMRL insists that the kiosks will be a public convenience.
