The much-awaited Metro Rail stretch between Ameerpet and L.B. Nagar would be ready for commercial operations by July-end, said Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development K.T. Rama Rao, after travelling on the stretch with an inspection team here on Wednesday.
After completion of work, the launch would be scheduled on a day convenient for Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, he said, while addressing a press conference at L.B. Nagar Metro Rail station.
Further, the detailed project reports (DPRs) were being prepared for phase-II of Metro Rail between Biodiversity Park and the international airport at Shamshabad, and would be ready by July-August, the Minister said.
Parking issues at metro stations too would be addressed soon, through construction of multi-level car parking (MLCP) at 42 sites in the city, with provisions for commercialisation of the spaces. Tenders for the same would be called in 15 days.
For last-mile connectivity, action plan was being prepared for launching electric vehicles with a tie-up between Uber and Mahindra. As a pilot, charging stations for electric vehicles would be provided at Miyapur station, which would eventually be extended to all the stations and MLCPs. The charging points would be provided at bus stations too in view of 500 electric vehicles to be procured by TSRTC.
It has been proposed to develop the area between Nampally and Rangmahal, including Moazzamjahi Market, as ‘Heritage Precinct’ as part of the metro rail project, Mr. Rama Rao said. Efforts have been under way to establish metro rail connectivity with Nampally railway station and Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS).
Expressing satisfaction over passenger turnout on the existing line between Nagole and Miyapur that was opened for public in November last, he said the daily average of passenger turnout on the stretch has crossed 80,000, which is much higher than Bengaluru and Chennai metro rails. Forty per cent of the passengers are smart card-users, he said, and added that there have not been major complaints about the services so far.
With the opening of the latest 16-km stretch, 45 km of the metro rail is complete.
Fielding questions on the high metro fare, Mr. Rama Rao said comparisons with Delhi Metro Rail were not apt, as the latter was totally a government enterprise. “It’s like comparing apples with oranges,” he said.
