Work on ROBs for Hyderabad Metro Rail starts today

Works on Metro Rail Over Bridges (ROBs), one of the important aspects of Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR), began today with the launching of Bharatnagar ROB works here.
HMR corridors are crossing the tracks of Indian Railways at eight locations in the twin cities with Corridor-I (Miyapur to L B Nagar) having three ROBs, Corridor-II (JBS to Falaknuma) having one ROB and Corridor-III (Nagole to Shilparamam) having four ROBs.
"This (work on ROBs) is one activity which is very crucial for the completion of the project. We have got eight railway crossings to be done in this 72 km project," said V B Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad).

"From the point of view of traffic of railway's prospective these corridors are quite heavy for traffic. From the safety perception when we are working on the tracks it is important that we get some traffic blocks and that will create some hindrance to their (railways) operations and hence it has to be very meticulously planned," he said.
"Adjusting their own requirements of traffic and continuity of trains and not inconveniencing the (rail) passengers, this particular thing has been planned. This is the first among the eight ROBs where works started today and after this works on other ROBs would be taken over in sequence," Gadgil said.

"It is a very important milestone in my opinion. Elaborate arrangements have been made both from safety perspective and also limiting the traffic blocks as much less as possible," he added.

Taking the future needs and plans of Indian Railways, including running of double decker trains, the Metro ROB works are carefully planned and at some places the Metro ROBs will cross the railway bridges at double elevation.
Out of the eight Metro ROBs, six are concrete bridges and two are steel bridges, HMR Managing Director N V S Reddy said.
"Entire operation will be carried out over railway tracks and hence railway traffic will be closed for 3 hours twice a week. Bharatnagar Metro ROB works will be completed by April 15," he said.

L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH), the concessionaire, is developing the 72-km elevated metro rail project with three corridors and 66 stations.