The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Metro rail work to start in August

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Wednesday, May 14, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Metro rail work to start in August

Special Correspondent

Elevated rail project cost spread across 71 kilometres fixed at Rs. 9,696 crore

HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR), in all probability, will start work on the metro rail project in August.

It is scheduled to open financial bids in the middle of June and finalise the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) developer and deliver letter of acceptance in July.

“We have completed a delicate exercise of coming out with a Model Concessionaire Agreement containing the manual of specifications and standards indicating basic standards of technical aspects, performance criteria and safety features,” said HMR Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy.

The elevated rail project cost spread across 71 kilometres has been fixed at Rs. 9,696 crore with a five per cent escalation clause.

While steep rise in steel and other prices was a fact, the challenge for the private developer is to go for “innovative design and financial solution” so that the least amount of government ‘grant’ (viability gap funding) is taken, he said.

Three metro rail routes are to be taken up simultaneously from – Line one: Miyapur to L.B. Nagar, Line two: Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma and Line three: Nagole to Shilparamam, making it the biggest metro proposed on the unique public private partnership mode.

The Centre has cleared a Rs. 2,000 crore grant. Interacting with presspersons after a brainstorming session with railway experts and representatives of the five consortia vying for the project here on Tuesday, Mr. Reddy said all the five will be issued with the Concessionaire agreement, specifications manual and a request for proposal as part of the financial tender document.

The State would sign the agreement with the selected developer. The MD explained that every technical detail was being studied with a fine toothcomb and similar exercise is to be done for the legal and financial issues with the stakeholders and experts. The Advisor to Government, T. Stanley Babu pointed out that a balance was sought to be struck between the interest of the public for a safe, comfortable and punctual public transport system and commercial viability for the private BOT developer.

“We are excited about the project since a PPP project is totally different. It will be better than Delhi Metro,” vouchsafed DMRC officials – Satish Kumar and Mangu Singh. DMRC is a consultant for the project. Former Railway Board Chairman M. Ravindra, former Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety G.P. Garg, present Chief Commissioner of Railway Safety Prasanth Kumar and others participated.

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