Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has stated his intent to extend the Metro Rail to areas like Uppal, Trimulgherry, Ghatkesar and Pantancheru, which had been a longtime demand for the people of these areas.

In a meeting to discuss power projects with Larsen & Toubro, power division, the CM told senior L&T officers that “there must be Metro Rail connectivity for these areas and a feasibility study must be done.”

A source said, “While the options can be explored, there is a need to understand that there is a process that needs to take place before these issues can be dealt with. If a feasibility study has to be carried out, tenders need to be called for. There can be more than one company that may apply for it and accordingly the plans need to be chalked out.”

The Hyderabad Metro Rail was not a part of the meeting, and sources in the department claim that they are not aware about this. “The extension of the Metro Rail requires a lot of factual research at the ground level. In the first three planned corridors, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation still has problems in acquiring properties. The compensation and re-imbursement packages are taking time to settle. For this reason, it is important to complete the project that is at hand. The completion will give the required confidence to the citizens that their travel is definitely going to be easy and cheap. Concentration, however, is being diverted to new ventures which do require to attention, but can be done once the first phase of the present project is completed,” said a source.

The Uppal to Mettuguda stretch is proposed to start on Ugadi. For this, the parking outside stations, approach roads and also connectivity issues require to be addressed by the government.

In a recent meeting between the Metro Rail department, L&T and the chief secretary’s office, the GHMC had been given 45 days to sort out issues of payment of compensation to private property owners and take over the affected properties.

A senior officer said, “In the Uppal to Mettuguda stretch, the approach road to the stations is all dug up. These roads need to be laid. There is a need that all agencies involved work towards it and ensure complete co-operation. Diverting attention will make the officers lose focus who are actually struggling to get works done at the ground level.”

The Hyderabad Metro Rail has stated that so far 1,700 foundations in 44 kilometers have been laid, 1,600 pillars spanning 42 kilometers constructed and 1,290 viaduct spans have been completed. The works at the depots of Uppal and Miyapur have almost been completed and 18 trains have been received so far at both the depots.

Test runs for all the trains have been successfully carried out between Nagole and Mettuguda.

Metro rail pillars marred by poster

Hydrebad: Defacing of Metro pillars with posters is a major problem being faced by the concessionaire Larsen and Turbo Metro Rail. The defacement happens in terms of posters being pasted on the pillars. However, despite the officers and workers protesting the defacement, little attention is paid to it.

A senior officer said, “There are so many posters on the pillars that an agency has been appointed for their removal. Twice a day, they make rounds of the city and whenever posters are found, they are taken off the pillars.”

While the Metro pillars are used for advertisements, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is yet to give the clearance for advertising at Metro stations.

A senior officer said, “Once we get a clearance, then the frame work for the advertising boards, marketing for the advertising space and other management issues can be taken up.” Advertising was a part of the contract but the approvals seem to be far from coming.