The construction of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) is on course with almost 80 per cent of the work complete on Stage I (Nagole to Mettuguda). Trial runs across the viaduct on the stretch would be conducted in June as announced earlier, HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy said on Saturday.
Mr. Reddy was talking to reporters after taking Railway Board Member (Engineering) S.K. Jain and senior officials of the South Central Railway (SCR) on a tour of the ongoing works, especially at sites where the Metro Rail viaduct would ‘jump’ over the railway lines.
The overhead Nagole station, which is under construction, the Uppal depot and the casting yard nearby were also inspected.
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Though he was reluctant to speak much in view of the enforcement of the poll code, Mr. Jain accepted that there were technical parameters to be thrashed out to clear design plans for the Metro viaduct across the existing railway lines, and also for the take-over of portions of railway land across the three corridors.
But, he was also confident of expediting the clearances and resolving issues soon.
The Metro lines pass over the railway lines at about eight sites, including four near the Secunderabad railway station – Alugadda Bhavi, Chilkalguda, Oliphant Bridge and Bhoiguda.
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Other rail crossings are at Bharatnagar, Lakdikapul, Malakpet and Begumpet. Metro viaducts will be built at a height of eight metres to 22 metres at locations when they cross the rail tracks. The concourse, or the first-level of overhead platform, will be at a height of 5.5 metres and platforms will stand 11-12 metres tall.
“Hyderabad Metro Rail is an iconic project, being the only one being done on a public, private partnership (PPP) mode. Everyone is watching its progress with interest so that it can be emulated,” remarked Mr. Jain.
Praising the efforts in optimising time and land utilisation for the construction of the Metro Rail, the railway board member also lauded the quality and aesthetics going into the project.