Re-alignment of Hyderabad metro proposed at three points

The Telangana government Tuesday officially communicated to L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd the changes in the alignment of Hyderabad metro rail project at three locations in the city.

Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao made it clear that the government will ensure completion of the project without affecting heritage structures and places of worship.

At a review meeting with top officials of LTMRHL, the chief minister informed them of three specific changes.

As per the changes mooted by the government, the metro rail will pass behind the assembly building to save Telangana martyrs memorial. It also suggested change in alignment in Sultan Bazar, a crowded market area.

As per the suggestion by Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM), the government has also asked the developer to change the entire alignment of the metro rail in the old city of Hyderabad. MIM floor leader in assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi, who attended the meeting, said the re-alignment was necessary to save many religious structures.

As per the original alignment, the metro will pass through Darulshifa, Mir Alam Mandi, Etebar Chowk, Moghalpura and other densely populated and historic areas. MIM has mooted alternate route along Musi River, Bahadurpura, and Kalapathar to join Falaknuma.

A statement from the chief minister's office said the change of alignment is necessary in the old city as the project in its present form will affect seven temples, 28 mosques and 1,000 houses.

A few days ago, the chief minister had held a meeting with L&T chairman A.M. Naik and other officials. The government had issued a statement claiming that the developer has agreed for the change in alignment and announced that it will bear the additional cost.

However, two days later the concessionaire company's chief executive V.B. Gadgil denied that the company agreed to any alignment changes. He said state government was yet to formally communicate the changes it wanted.

These proposed alignments and some other issues between by Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) government and the concessionaire firm sparked a row last month when a letter by L&T to the government threatening to walk out of the project was leaked to media. The company later clarified that it remains committed to the project.

The LTMRHL is building 72-km elevated metro project, said to be the biggest project in the world in public private partnership.

The cost of the project at the time of signing of concession agreement in 2010 was Rs.14,132 crore. The concessionaire company said in September this year that the cost has escalated by Rs.2,500 crore to Rs.3,000 crore due to inflation and other reasons.

The project on all three corridors is scheduled to be completed in 2017. The first phase on eight km stretch is likely to be operational in March next year.