The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Circular metro rail connectivity on the anvil

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Friday, Jun 26, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Circular metro rail connectivity on the anvil

Special Correspondent

Government keen to ease traffic congestion in city

YSR for plan to link existing, future railway stations under MMTS-II
International consultant to be engaged to draft ‘vision document’

HYDERABAD: The city may well emerge as a city of train commuters for intra-city travel given the State government’s preference to ease congestion on roads by promoting alternative rail routes.

Continuing his focus on transport infrastructure and connectivity to the international airport from any part of the expanding city, Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy has directed the officials to come up with a comprehensive plan linking existing and proposed railway stations under MMTS-II , Metro and along Outer Ring Road for providing circular rail connectivity to the Shamshabad Airport.

The government has already made provision for rail lines and acquired land for ‘Right of Way’ and railway stations all along the 162 km-long ORR are under progress.

The Chief Minister was reviewing the connectivity between the city and international airport at Shamshabad -- this time rail connectivity – with officials of Infrastructure Corporation of AP (INCAP) and the Department of Infrastructure & Investment here on Thursday.

He felt that the proposal to have a dedicated underground train from the Begumpet airport to Shamshabad was not viable nor feasible because of the huge costs involved.

He, however, directed the officials to work on a ‘vision document’ keeping in view the city’s transportation needs till 2050 in coordination with the Railways.

The document should focus on a circular rail route along with radial routes to provide easy connectivity to people living in any part of the city, comfortable travel apart from access to the international airport while significantly reducing the congestion on roads.

An international consultant will be engaged soon to draft the ‘vision document’ with specific projects.

It will take into account all the rail routes under the MMTS –I and railway stations proposed under MMTS-II, Metro Rail and along the Outer Ring Road, INCAP Managing Director K. V. Reddy.

The earlier proposal envisaged a dedicated train from Begumpet airport to Shamshabad airport via HI-TEC City but with the Railways not able to spare the land, an underground train covering the distance of 14 kms was mooted, he said.

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