Hyderabad Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao has instructed the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD) department to proceed with the Hyderabad Metro project in the Old City, as stated by MA&UD Minister KT Rama Rao. The Chief Minister personally contacted the chairman of L&T, the agency responsible for the Metro Rail Project, urging them to expedite the project. He assured them of full support from the State government.
In order to fulfill the commitment of extending the Metro service to the Old City, the State government has allocated Rs 500 crore in this year’s budget.
Currently, the Hyderabad Metro operates on three corridors, covering a distance of 70 km, including the route from Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma. However, the 5.5 km stretch from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) to Falaknuma has faced obstacles such as land and property acquisition issues, as well as legal complications.
The demand for extending Metro services to the Old City has been persistent due to the increasing traffic and the need for improved public transportation connectivity. The Chief Minister’s directive to the MA&UD department has addressed this issue.
During the release of the MA&UD’s 10-year report, Rama Rao reaffirmed the State government’s commitment to undertake and complete the Old City Metro Rail project.
The extension of the Hyderabad Metro into the Old City has faced delays due to the financial losses incurred by L&T as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Additionally, the presence of religious and heritage structures along the proposed route in the Old City has posed challenges for land and property acquisition by officials.
