Old City Metro: 55 properties left to acquire, HMRL official directs expediting

Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) and Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited Additional Managing Director B. Ajith Reddy on Saturday directed officials of various government departments to expedite pending works related to the Old City Metro Rail project. The directive came during a field inspection of the 7.5-km metro corridor from Darulshifa to Chandrayangutta.

During the inspection, Mr. Reddy reviewed the progress of road widening and land acquisition works along the route. Officials informed him that 833 of the 888 affected properties had already been acquired. The remaining 55 properties, including a few heritage and old structures, are yet to be acquired. Mr. Reddy discussed measures to expedite the process while addressing the complexities involved in acquiring these properties.

He also instructed officials to accelerate the relocation of utilities such as electricity poles, power lines, and water pipelines to ensure they do not hinder project execution. Stressing the need for better inter-departmental coordination, he called for the immediate removal of debris from demolished properties and asked all agencies concerned to facilitate the required right of way for construction activities.

Mr. Reddy reminded officials of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy's directive to fast-track the Old City Metro Rail project and improve public transport connectivity for residents of the densely populated areas of South Hyderabad. He expressed satisfaction that local residents have been cooperating with the successful execution of the project.

The Old City Metro project is seen as a crucial step in bringing the benefits of the metro network to the southern parts of Hyderabad. Once completed, it is expected to ease commuting for thousands of daily passengers and reduce traffic congestion in the old city area, which is known for its narrow roads and dense population.

Officials who participated in the inspection included HMR Chief Engineer S. Bhaskar Reddy, Special Project Manager C. Vinod Kumar, Executive Engineer K. Shyam Mohan Reddy, Deputy Chief Engineer T. Ramachandran, Project Manager K. Narasinga Rao, Land Acquisition DGM V. Praveen Kumar, GHMC Zonal Commissioner K. Satyanarayana, and officials from Metro Water Works and HMRL.

The project continues to face challenges typical of urban infrastructure development, including the acquisition of properties with legal complications and the relocation of utilities. The directive to expedite the remaining work is in line with the state government's commitment to complete the corridor on time and provide better public transport options to the residents of the Old City.