HMDA draft plan proposes 5-fold expansion of metro rail

Hyderabad will have 360 km of metro rail network, 428 km of MMTS network and 360 km of bus rapid transport system (BRTS) by 2041, if we go by the draft Comprehensive Long Term Transport Plan prepared at the behest of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).

At present, the ongoing metro rail corridor comprises 72 km while the existing MMTS network is 46 km. The MMTS Phase-II network, being executed now, consists of 102 km.

The HMDA issued a public notice on Wednesday inviting objections and suggestions on the Draft Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS) Master Plan for Hyderabad Metropolitan Area (HMA).

According to the draft report,  the estimated population and employment of HMA by 2041 would be 19 million and 9.3 million as against 9.6 million and 3.7 million respectively in 2011.

The plan also proposes a major highway network consisting of 1,085 km. This network is meant for meeting the demands of the proposed transit-oriented development inside the outer ring road (ORR), 13 transit-oriented growth centres along the ORR and also the notified 13 urban nodes, 46 urban centres and 33 major industrial areas outside the ORR.