HYDERABAD (INDIA): The Telangana government has permitted the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited to complete all the three corridors of the elevated Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) project by November 2018, except for a six kms stretch.
“After detailed technical presentations by the concessionaire L&TMRHL, independent engineer Louis Berger, and HMRL and several rounds of discussions, the government has permitted the concessionaire to complete the entire Hyderabad Metro Rail project other than the 5 km stretch in the Old City and about 1 km stretch between Hitec city and Raidurg, latest by November 2018,” an official release said.
The project was initially scheduled to be completed by July 2017, but delays like land acquisition and other issues have resulted in the project overshooting the deadline.
“The original construction period ended yesterday. Some delays have occurred in completion of the project by the originally stipulated date due to multiple court cases in acquisition of some critical properties etc. The government has agreed for this extension of 17 months,” HMRL Managing Director NVS Reddy said.
While granting extension, the state Government has advised L&TMRHL and HMRL to gear up for launching the completed stretches of the project in the next few months and also to complete corridor-I (Miyapur-LB Nagar: 29 km) and corridor-III (Nagole-Hitec city: 27 km) by the end of this year.
L&TMRHL is developing the 72-km elevated HMRL project across three corridors.
The HMRL project is the world s largest public-private partnership project (PPP) in the sector.
Telangana Chief Secretary SP Singh reviewed the progress of the project on July 3 and instructed both the Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts and GHMC Commissioner to complete acquisition of the remaining properties quickly for widening of roads in Sultan Bazar, Nampally areas, and for implementing the project in the remaining few stretches, the release added.
MIM Chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted, “Why is Old city being left out, L&T & HMR must explain the reasons our party wants Metro Rail in Old city.”
Source: Press Trust of India