KCR Asks Metro To Look At Alternative Routes To Avoid Losing Heritage Structures

Chief Minister KCR reviewed the progress of the metro rail project with officials from Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) and L&T. In continuation of his reservations over Metro passing over heritage locations, the CM broached about metro passing the state assembly, M.J. Market, Jambagh, Assembly, Gun Park and Sultan Bazar. The CM asked the HMR to look and exhaust alternate options, even if an underground passage is not feasible at this stage of project. The HMR officials seem to have explained the practical difficulties faced we an underground path is adapted at this stage. The CM replied by asking them to explore all options to save the invaluable city’s heritage and that his Government would support them in whatever way possible in the exercise. But he seem to have firmly said the present path in Corridor 2 can’t continue and work has to stop now till alternatives are explored, including a possible realignment.

So, the objections raised even before the Metro project started over the metro’s corridor passing through heritage structures is coming back to haunt L&T now. Even while the civil society mentioned it’s objections quite vocally, the then Governments in the State payed no heed and aggressively went ahead with the metro path they wanted. Allegations were ripe the metro was trying to make real estate profits instead of reducing the traffic woes in the city. A case in point is the almost similar path to MMTS that metro follows in some corridors. Now with the CM’s orders, it has become clear unilateral decisions and projects without consensus don’t hold for long. Civil society activists have appreciated the CM’s tough stand on saving heritage structures.