The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project will rejuvenate commercial establishments in older parts of the city, HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy said on Sunday.
As cities expand, the older parts start decaying, as people tend to move away from them. The only way to save older establishments is to bring consumers back by providing them better transportation, he said, adding that Metro Rail was the best way to ensure this connectivity.
Mr. Reddy was addressing traders and members of the Rajasthani community at a function organised by Rajasthan Graduate Association.
“By providing skyways to commercial complexes and establishments, consumers can be encouraged to patronise shops and establishments that are otherwise not easily accessible,” he explained. Mr. Reddy also spoke about various other benefits that the Metro Rail would bring to the city by way of providing avenues for redesigning the city.
Once the main work is completed by the concessionaire, L&T Metro Rail Limited, the HMR will construct skywalks to connect Metro stations with surrounding apartment complexes, commercial establishments and educational institutions in terms of requirement, Mr. Reddy explained.
“We are receiving several representations from people requesting extension of the Metro Rail to their areas, and these requests will be incorporated in the next phase,” he said.
The requests include extension of the Metro Rail line from L.B. Nagar to Vanasthalipuram, Miyapur to Patancheru and Jubilee Bus Stand to Alwal.
Reiterating that the HMR will not give extra space to the concessionaire, Mr. Reddy pointed out that utilising the available space for commercial use was necessary to strengthen public-private-partnership.
“There are about 200 metros in the world, of which only half a dozen are making profit. The passenger fare component of the revenue covers hardly 50 per cent of the total cost, so the rest of the burden should be fulfilled by using the available space for commercial purposes and advertisements,” Mr. Reddy explained.
He also said parking spaces were currently being constructed at 20 Metro stations, and that officials were exploring options to create space in the available government land at other Metro stations.
Harikrishna Ojha, Suresh Chandra Kabra, Ramesh Kumar Bhattad and other members of the association were present.
