Minister KTR Wants Metro Expanded To 250 KM, To Meet Needs Of Growing Population

While there is too much speculation in some sections of media over the ‘friction’ between L& T and Telangana Govt. over the very future of metro rail project, the state govt and Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) are already planning expansion of Metro! KTR, the minister of IT & Industries, has urged the HMR authorities to explore expansion the Metro Rail distance from the present plan of 72 km to 250 km.

Launching the 1st batch of  17 students of the 1 year PG program at the Institute of Metro and Rail Technology (IMRT) in Hyderabad on Friday, the minister said “Hyderabad is projected to grow to a mega metropolis in the next 20 years, we may have to draw up plans to increase the metro network from the current 72 km (under-construction) to 250 km by 2040 to meet the needs of the growing population,”. He added that the TRS government is committed to construction of Metro Rail in Hyderabad and clarified that there were no differences between the government and HMR officials about the project. He also added the state is exploring an additional Light Rail Transport System (LRTS).

IMRT DG Gyan Prakash said that the first batch for the one year course for engineering students has 17 students and has been devised with inputs from the industry.

HMR managing director NVS Reddy said they are making preparations for a trial run of the Metro Rail shortly. He also disclosed that the Metro Rail trial run between Nagole and Mettuguda will be held on the Telugu New Year Day, Ugadi. For the purpose, four more bogies were being brought from Hyundai Rottendam (South Korea), he added.

He said while  there would be no underground railway line in front of the Assembly building and Mojamjahi Market areas, technical studies are on to look into possible alternate routes to avoid Legislative Assembly and Sultan Bazar, as per CM’s suggestions. Based on the feasibility report, the Government will take appropriate decision. He said HMR is in touch with government over possible realignment and the costs associated and how they can be shared between Govt. and HMR. He said they have spent over Rs 4,600 crores on the HMR project so far and ready to spend more due to the additional expenditure on HMR alignments. He once again clarified that Hyderabad Metro Rail is totally the Telangana project. The HMR MD earlier categorically mentioned the procedures around the Centre’s meetings in Delhi through the Central Project Monitoring Group.