Hyderabad Metro Rail To Take 17 More Months For Completion?:- Except for a five kilometre stretch in the Old City and a one kilometre stretch between the Hitech City and Raidurg, the State Government has given permission to the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited to complete the entire Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) project by November 2018.

Apart from this, HMRL and L&TMRHL officials were issued instructions to buck up for the launching operations on the completed stretches of the project in the next few months. Furthermore, they were directed to complete the works on Corridor-I (Miyapur-LB Nagar: 29 km) and corridor-III (Nagole-Hitec City: 27 km) by the end of this year.

After several rounds of discussions and negotiations between senior officials of the government and the concessionaire, L&T, the permission and instructions have come. During a meeting with Chief Secretary SP Singh, the representatives of L&TMRHL, independent engineer Louis Berger and HMRL made detailed technical presentations on Monday.

The entire project, as per the scheduled norms, was to be completed by July 4, 2017. But, the works were not completed as per schedule, due to some delays, especially multiple court cases in acquisition of some critical properties.

HMRL Managing Director NVS Reddy, said, “The government has permitted an extension of 17 months, considering all these factors.” “All the interests of the Government have been protected while agreeing for the time extension,” said Mr. Reddy.

The Chief Secretary reviewed the progress of the project during the meeting and directed the Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and the GHMC Commissioner to complete acquisition of the remaining properties at the earliest for widening of roads in Sultan Bazar, Nampally and other areas to start the project works in the remaining few stretches.

SUPRAJA