Hyderabad: The tram project for the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, proposed by a French company, has picked up momentum after three-and-a-half years. The tram is expected to improve public transport in the twin cities by at least 40 per cent, which is currently only 20 per cent.
Highly placed sources in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said the state government has asked the French firm to explore tyre-based trams, rather than gauge ones, to minimise road cutting.
The new age tram services will connect Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma via Lower Tank Bund, Ambedkar Statue, Basheerbagh, Abids, Moazamjahi Market and Charminar. No heritage structures would be damaged as the tram would take a detour of them.
Though multinational companies, including Keolis, Codatu and Luminas, had expressed interest in the tram project, they did not follow up. However, Agence Française de Développement (AFD) keenly pursued the project. It made a power point presentation at a meeting chaired by municipal administration and urban development minister K. Taraka Rama Rao earlier this month at Buddha Bhavan. The French agency was asked to conduct a detail transport study and submit a comprehensive project report by February, along with changes suggested by the authorities.
A senior GHMC official said the delay of HMRL in extending its operation till Falaknuma has forced them to go for the tram project.
“Property acquisition would be minimal for the project. The tram would run on tyres instead of gauge. The minimum fare will be fixed around `10 and maximum will be `30,” the official added.
