Hyderabad Metro Rail stretch to get heritage makeover

 ​Hyderabad: A 5- km metro rail stretch between Police Control Room/Telangana State Archaeology Museum and Rangamahal Jn/Chaderghat, covering five metro stations of Assembly, Nampally, Gandhi Bhavan, OMC and MGBS in Corridor-I would be developed as a heritage precinct informed Hyderabad Metro Rail managing director NVS Reddy here on Wednesday. 

 The area would have continuous and wide footpaths for seamless pedestrian movement with a distinct heritage theme. Wrought iron/MS railing with heritage look, classic patterns of tiles and stone flooring, restoration of heritage structures and buildings, liberal usage of cobble stones, period street furniture and vintage looking electrical fittings interspersed with sculptures, art work, classical signage will form part of the heritage precinct development.

 Footpaths will be dipped to form a ramp like structure for the convenience of pedestrians at every entry/exit point of Government and private buildings and this portion will be paved with cobble stones. 

The existing rotary opposite Police Control Room will be remodelled circumventing the Metro pillars, so as to allow smooth passage of vehicles without any conflict and the signal post and signage will be relocated in the remodelled central median. 

Storm water drains and cross drains will be constructed along with restoration of existing storm water drains to prevent water stagnation on the main carriage way and in front of some heritage properties.

 Theme-based public plazas will be developed with appropriate focus lighting etc., to restore the magnificent look of the grand structures which are presently not in a good shape.

 The Clock Tower adjacent to the Police Control Room which is presently not properly visible, will be highlighted through removal of obstacles and provision of subdued focus lighting.

 Nampally Metro station will be connected with the railway station, about 200 metres away, with a covered walkway and railing with heritage look.  Passengers transiting from Metro station to the Railway station and vice-versa will be able to take their luggage in trollies as in airports. 

Two lane carriage way on each side will be aesthetically developed with cobble stones.  Proper bus bays, auto bays, e-vehicle bays etc., will be created to regulate the haphazard traffic in this busy Metro and Railway stations area.  

 Encroachments and illegal constructions on government lands, public spaces and footpaths will be removed especially at Nampally, OMC and Chaderghat.

 Large scale encroachments and illegal dumping of debris in Musi on Chaderghat side will be removed. Chaderghat entry point and parking & circulation area of MGBS station will be beautified with plenty of greenery and good quality public amenities.

 The multi-level car parking and other facilities which are coming up at Nampally and Gandhi Bhavan stations will be seamlessly integrated with MJ Market which is being restored under the direct supervision of MA&UD Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar.  

 The old glory of Jambagh market will be revived and it will be integrated with another major restoration work which will be undertaken in Sultan Bazar and OMC station areas.  

 The skywalks connecting MGBS Metro station with MGBS bus depot on one side and the old city area on Chaderghat side will have state-of-the-art facilities for seamless connectivity. 

 The stretch between OMC station and Rangamahal Jn which has corridor-II Metro tracks passing over corridor-I Metro tracks in a double decker style pillar structure, will be developed as an important tourist spot to showcase the convergence between historical elegance and engineering excellence in Hyderabad city. The Metro pillars, portals and walls in this area and in Nampally will be decorated with paintings and sculptures reflecting the rich history and culture of Hyderabad and Telangana.