The 12-km Miyapur to S.R. Nagar line could be the first metro rail stretch to be opened for public later this year which is likely to be followed by the eight-km Nagole to Mettuguda line once the elevated viaduct is built upto Begumpet.
Earlier, the proposal was to start the Nagole to Mettuguda stretch first.
The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) authorities have already started taking up street beautification project on the first stretch coming under Corridor One – Miyapur to L.B. Nagar, with 15-50 ft wide pavements, hawker zones, 23 ft wide slip roads, bus and auto bays, greenery and the likes as the trial runs were done in all respects, explained Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy on Saturday.
By the end of the year, the entire Corridor One would be ready as the rail over bridges at Lakdikapool and Malakpet too would have been completed. While for Corridor Three upto Hi-Tec City (from Nagole), the line would be ready for operation once the Begumpet RoB was completed.
“Except for the 6-km old city route from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Terminus (MGBS) to Falaknuma under Corridor Two – Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma, and the one-km stretch from Hi-Tec City to Raidurg on Corridor Three, the entire project will be completed by next year. We are on target,” he said at a press briefing at the new Metro Rail Bhavan.
Since the inter-change stations at Ameerpet (also MGBS) were “tough” constructions, it might be bypassed for running the metro line on Corridor One. “But it’s the government that has to take the final call on the commencement date of operations and when the work would be taken up in the old city,” he said.
Equally, it was the government’s call on how much more time to give to the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH) for completing the project as July 2017 is the deadline as per the Concessionnaire Agreement (CA). “Extension will be for less than two years and it will be reflected in the CA too,” he indicated.
Also, the government was yet to receive the extent of cost escalation on account of delays in providing right of way and alignment issues from the L&TMRH, he added.
Single ticket card
There would be a single smart card for travelling on the metro rail and the TSRTC offices as well as the feeder transport would be run from the colonies on either side of the corridors. Talks have been on with the railway authorities for MMTS services to join the card as it was capable of having 18 features which could be used for shopping too.
“Our objective is to minimise the use of private vehicles and encourage public transport or eco-friendly vehicles,” said Mr. Reddy. The L&TMRH has built 1.5 million sq. ft of commercial space at the stations and malls at Punjagutta and Erramanzil where every citizen’s needs would be taken care of.
About 10,000 bicycles and 400 bike stations have been on the anvil while electric vehicles would connect the colonies. Battery charging facilities would also be provided at select stations.
Parking space would be provided at 62 of the 64 metro stations across the three corridors unlike the practice in developed countries of having sufficient parking space only in the terminal stations. The HMR itself would be building parking complexes at 15 stations whereas the L&TMR would be developing them at 17 stations with inter-modal connectivity where RTC buses and two-wheelers would be given preference.
Pedestrian-friendly stations
Each station with natural ventilation would have entrances and exits on all four sides. To prevent metro riders to straightaway get into the main carriageway, footpaths would have access control railings for 400 metres and the L&MRH was spending between ₹60 to ₹200 crore on each station. Escalators, lifts and stairs were being provided for with round-the-clock security and baggage scanners. The MD also welcomed ideas from citizens for improving the station design.
