The independent agency for the Rs.12,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail project, which will monitor the quality of construction and liaise between the government and Larsen & Toubro, the firm selected to implement the project, will be finalised by December 14.
Six firms have been shortlisted after receiving the bids. They have been asked to fulfil the conditions by November 30. The outgo to the selected agency will be about Rs. 80 crore. Work on the project will be started March next with the objective of readying the facility and integrating it with the existing Multi Modal Transport System (MMTS) in four years. Efforts are on by Larsen & Toubro to achieve financial closure by March 4.
Disclosing these details to reporters after Chief Minister K. Rosaiah reviewed the progress of the project at a meeting with the officials of the State Government, Defence, Railways and National Highways here on Thursday, Municipal Administration Minister Anam Ramanarayan Reddy said preparatory work like survey and acquisition of 269 acres of land required for the three corridors for setting up 66 stations were all in full swing. A sum of Rs. 500 crore out of the government's share of Rs. 1,980 crore had been sanctioned. Mr. Rosaiah ordered immediate release of Rs. 119 crore for takeover of lands in Miryapur (104 acres) and Nagole (100 acres). He asked V. B. Gadgil, MD, Larsen & Toubro Metro Rail Limited, to adopt innovative technologies while implementing the project and avoid digging roads for long stretches as it would inconvenience the travelling public.
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N.V.S. Reddy, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited, said once the agency was finalised, the government would release the funds to implement works equal to the sum disbursed by the Larsen & Toubro. The Minister and he said the alignment of one out of three corridors — Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma — would be re-examined in the light of representations that more than 12 religious structures would be affected in Falakunuma alone.