In July 2013, the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) authorities had said that the 8-kilometre Nagole-Mettuguda stretch of the project would be opened to commuter traffic. Later it was said that some portions would be opened by 2016. And now that date when citizens will see the public transport system has been stretched to 2018!
Traffic diversion
So what does all of this mean for citizens? Massive traffic jam at some places for another two years, if one goes by the everyday scenario that is playing out on the Secunderabad to Madhapur main road now. Since work began in earnest near the Rasoolpura junction, commuters are forced to spend an hour everyday at the traffic bottleneck. “Even if I start 45 minutes earlier I am not able to reach my office on time. So I have started using the Mehdipatnam-Gachibowli route to go to Hi-tech City. Even though the distance is more, I don’t have to wait in the traffic for an hour,” said A. M. Khan, a resident of Musheerabad, who now spends more money on fuel due to the situation at Rasoolpura junction.
The Hyderabad traffic police, which is now diverting traffic at Rasoolpura junction due to the Metro Rail work, said that work would go on for six months more there. Rishi Reddy, a resident of Secunderabad, has now begun using the MMTS train everyday because commuting to Begumpet has become a hassle. “Taking an MMTS from the Secunderabad to the Begumpet railway station is faster, in spite of the time I spend waiting there,” he pointed out.
And it’s not just the Rasoolpura junction, but other stretches like the Ameerpet-S. R. Nagar road, Jubilee Hills check post to Madhapur and the Chaderghat to Dilsukhnagar main road where traffic comes to a standstill at times, say citizens. A senior traffic police official, requesting anonymity, said that once the Metro Rail station work begins on those stretches, the traffic situation at those places might worsen.
Sewer lines damaged
And it’s not just commuters who are affected by the delay of the Metro Rail project. Officials of the water board said that laying of piers by L&T had damaged the sewer lines at some places. A senior HMWSSB official said that though the HMR authorities also carry out repair works, it is temporary in nature.
On Tuesday, the HMWSSB in a press release said that a pot-hole which had formed opposite Nandini Hotel at Chikkadpally had formed at the trial pit of the HMR. “Though they are coordinating well with us and inform us before doing anything, the metro works obstruct the sewer lines, which affects the flow of drainage. One example is near Shoppers Stop in Begumpet, where they removed our line,” he said.
Even roads at places where work is ongoing are anything but in a good condition, and the rains over the past week have shown how heavy showers might affect the traffic situation during the monsoon. “ During monsoons there are issues every year, but this time we will decide what to do based on the situation,” said traffic police official.
