L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH), the concessionaire building the Hyderabad Metro Rail project, is going ahead with the ‘original alignment’ with regard to the viaduct passing opposite the Legislative Assembly and another through the Sultan Bazar.
However, with regard to the alignment in the old city, discussions are on with the State Government on the issue, said L&TMRH chief executive and managing director V.B. Gadgil on Thursday. The first metro line alignment change proposed fall in Corridor one – L.B.Nagar to Miyapur, where the Government had considered taking the viaduct behind the Assembly and police quarters, through the Public Gardens onto the Nampally road.
The second change proposed was on Corridor Two – Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma, where the Government studied a possible change by taking it through Bade Chowdi, Tilak Park, University College of Women, Koti, and Osmania Medical College and on to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) Imlibun.
The CEO made it clear that they got communication from the Government to follow the alignment as per the Concession Agreement (CA) signed by both parties. The Nagole to Mettuguda section was ready in all aspects for running the metro trains, he said, but declined to answer about the project completion date.
Mr. Gadgil was talking to presspersons after inaugurating sample retail stores inside the overhead metro station in Nagole. As the metro rail has been designed to be seamless and comfortable mode of travel for commuters, retail stores catering to every need like - convenience, grocery, vegetable, daily needs, food courts, ATMs, medical, laundry & accessories are being planned.
L&TMRH has titled its real estate section as ‘Hyderabad Next’ and each station size range from 2,500 sq.ft to 9,000 sq.ft at two different locations at the concourse level or below station. Stores sizes start from 100 sq.ft to 350 sq.ft and can be scaled to 1,000 sq.ft and 2,500 sq.ft in the entry/exit area.
Three interchange – Ameerpet, MGBS & Parade Grounds and four special stations – Hi-Tec, Punjagutta, Raidurg & Begumpet will have retail space from10, 000 sq.ft to 40,000 sq.ft with stores size starting from 1500 sq.ft. Two model stories of 200 sq.ft and 180 sq.ft have been built to provide a first hand experience to the prospective businessmen. The MD said L&TMRH has come out with an innovative advertising business model. Queries can be addressed online. L&TMRH GM Sanjay Kapoor was present.
