Miyapur, SR Nagar Metro stretch in June

HMR writes to government for one-year extension

​Hyderabad: The 11-km Miyapur- SR Nagar stretch of corridor 1 of Metro Rail would become operational by June this year and Nagole- Begumpet 16-km stretch would be opened once the double elevation of RoB being buildt at a height of 60 feet is ready, said Hyderabad Metro Rail managing director N V S Reddy on Saturday.

Also the HMR project would be extended by a year-and-a-half as the work on all corridors was delayed due to multiple reasons from land acquisition, technical and geographical challenges, informed Reddy during an inspection at the Chilakalguda on Saturday. The HMR authorities have written to the government for a one-year extension.

Initially, the Nagole- Mettuguda stretch was to be opened last year and trial runs too were successfully conducted but the route from Alugaddabavi to Secunderabad station has been a major challenge and a pain in the neck for the HMR authorities due to the curvaceous route.

The Indian Railways insisted that the RoB accommodate future double-decker trains and as a result, a double elevation RoB is being built of about 60 feet from the road level. Also, it has the longest obligatory (main) span of 272 feet to accommodate the eight existing and five future railway tracks. This means that the Metro RoB is being built at a height of 60 feet and without any median support for a distance of 272 feet.

Explaining the cause for the delay and challenge at Oliphanta bridge, NVS Reddy said, “Originally the assembling of the steel structure was planned on Gopalapuram police station/ SC Railway Lekha Bhavan (old Accounts building) side.

But, this would have been risky in view of the heavy road traffic and congestion. Further, it would have also delayed the Metro project by about one-and-a-half years as launching from Lekha Bhavan side would have to be done only after completion of Secunderabad East Metro station.”

On the suggestion of MD, HMRL and with the cooperation of SCR to temporarily spare their vacant area on Chilkalguda side, the present site was finally chosen for assembling and launching the bridge.

As per the concessionaire agreement, the project was to be completed by June 2017 and on the question of cost escalation, senior officials say that a lot of developments took place since the project was envisaged and as of now there is no obligation on either of the sides- L&T which is implementing the project and HMR.