The Hindu : Front Page : Centre clears metro rail for Hyderabad

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Sunday, Apr 13, 2008
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Centre clears metro rail for Hyderabad

Special Correspondent

“Memorable” development in State’s history, says Chief Minister

Engineering marvel: An artist’s impression of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project.

HYDERABAD: After the first Greenfield international airport, the State capital will boast of one of the largest metro rail networks in public-private partnership mode with the Centre giving the green signal to the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project.

The Union Government has agreed to give a whopping Rs. 2,908 crore (30 per cent) required for the project as outright grant. Of the total outlay of Rs. 9,696 crore, the developer will have to bear 60 per cent of the cost (Rs. 5,819 crore) while the State will provide the balance 10 per cent (Rs. 969 crore).

Describing this development as “memorable” in the State’s history, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy announced at a press conference on Saturday that financial bids to implement the dream project would be invited from April 18 as the government already shortlisted five consortia of national and international companies earlier after evaluating their technical bids.

Operational in 2012

Once the tender process was completed by June-end, the government would sign agreements with the selected firm in July. The ground-breaking would be in August and the project would become operational by 2012. Work on the three rail lines of the project (total length 71.16 km with 66 stations) would be taken up simultaneously and developers allotted 269 acres at various places to develop related facilities.

The project cost has gone up by Rs 1,214 crore over the earlier 8,482 crore, as Line 3 which starts from Shilparamam, has been extended by five km up to Nagole to meet the traffic needs of Uppal industrial area. This route will be 26.51 km long while the lengths of Line I (Miyapur to LB Nagar) and Line II (Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma) were 29.87 km and 14.78 km as originally designed.

Dr. Reddy said the concession agreement for the project was carefully worded to avoid exploitation by the developer. The minimum fare would be Rs. 8 and maximum Rs. 19, making an average Rs. 12, in spite of the trains having A/C coaches with automatic door-closure and other facilities.

The tracks of the project would not be a hindrance to the road traffic as the up and down lines would be erected on pillars raised on the central median. Public would reach the stations through staircases, escalators and lifts.

With a 3-5 minute frequency during peak hours and with an average speed of 80 kmph, the trains would clear 16.95 lakh passengers a day when all lines were operational in 2012.

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