No Metro Rail for Old City

Hyderabad: The Old City will not have Metro Rail. Unless those who are opposing the original alignment from the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station to Falaknuma via Darulshifa, Miralamandi and Shalibanda change their mind, the project will halt at the MGBS, say the HMRL officials. According to the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) officials, the project is not violable with the proposed new alignment and a major political party in the Old City has been opposing the original alignment, claiming that the project would demolish several heritage structures on its way to Falaknuma from MGBS.

The officials said the Old City party leaders during a recent meeting with Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K Taraka Rama Rao did not give any clear indication about the project in the Old City. When queried about the same subject, a senior HMRL official told The Hans India that the proposed Metro Rail from Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma will be cut short to MGBS. He said L&TMRH has already indicated that any alignment change is difficult as per the CA (concessionaire agreement) to move it along the Musi river. .

He said there are two diverse opinions and unless a consensus emerges the work cannot go on. He said there has been no progress in the project as the state government and that particular political party in the Old City locked horns over the issue. He said that 6-km stretch from MGBS to Falaknuma will be left out and the remaining will be completed.

The HMRL official further said that HMR did not even acquire any property or land along the 6-km stretch from MGBS to Falaknuma. He said the Metro Rail project is progressing at brisk pace in the remaining corridors and will complete the project in a few months. However, the official did not announce any date for the inauguration of the rail project.