Metro rail: L&T prepares for a long haul

At least two months needed to prepare reports on alignment changes. The TS government has already indicated that it is not averse to picking up the tab for any increased cost estimate.

November 26, 2014 11:06 pm | Updated November 16, 2021 07:12 pm IST - HYDERABAD:

An overview of the Hyderabad Metro Rail track which is nearing completion on the LB Nagar stretch in Hyderabad. Photo: Nagara Gopal

An overview of the Hyderabad Metro Rail track which is nearing completion on the LB Nagar stretch in Hyderabad. Photo: Nagara Gopal

L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH), concessionaire building the elevated metro rail project for the capital, is likely to take at least a couple of months to prepare a technical and financial feasibility reports on the alignment changes sought by the TS government.

This is after the TS government and the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) officials have formally informed the concessionaire building the project (L&TMRH), about the desire of Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to have alignment changes in order to protect the heritage and religious structures at three identified places on Wednesday.

The meeting which was said to be held in a cordial atmosphere discussed threadbare about the proposed changes at Sultan Bazar, Legislative Assembly and changing the complete metro line on corridor two – from MGBS towards Falaknuma.

However, no written note was either given or exchanged in the meeting, according to official sources, declining to be identified. Once the L&TMRH studies the alignment changes, it is expected to come out with the probable enhanced cost and submit the same to the government.

The TS government has already indicated that it is not averse to picking up the tab for any increased cost estimate. The likely enhanced expenditure could be anywhere between Rs. 200 crore to Rs. 400 crore, according to the official sources, although the concessionaire may have a different view on it.

And, the technical feasibility as well as the cost is to be put forward to the Independent Engineer, Louis Berger, of the project. The IE will then take a holistic on the issue and present the same to both parties. Official sources insist that the alignment changes was very much feasible and costs manageable as the government is serious about it. In the meantime, project work will continue in other sections.

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