In a major boost to country's drive to encourage electric vehicles, L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited is planning to provide last mile connectivity to commuters through EVs.

While these would be showcased when the phase one of the project, a stretch of about 30 km of the 72-km-long elevated metro rail project gets commissioned in November this year, these EVs are expected to be fully operational along the metro stretches by the time the entire project gets commissioned some time next year.

Taking media through the progress of the project, officials of the L&T, Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited and KT Rama Rao, State Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, interacting at Secunderabad metro station, said the 30 km stretch of the 72 km project would be ready for commissioning by middle of November.

“However, we are awaiting final nod from Prime Minister Narendra Modi for its inaugural during his visit to Hyderabad on November 28 this year when he is expected to take part in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit to be held in Hyderabad. State Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has personally invited him,” he explained.

Referring to the metro project as one of the largest such project in the Public Private Partnership mode, which may see total investment of about Rs 20,000 crore, being developed by the L&T, which Rao described as Indian MNC, said, “The project will transform the lives of commuters in Hyderabad.”

“We will go all out to ensure commuters are comfortable and necessary infrastructure for pedestrian movement and parking of vehicles will be in place. We are looking at developing a number of multi-level parking zones but all these would be ready by next year end,” he said.

PARKING POLICY

The State is also actively considering coming out with a parking policy where private property owners would be encouraged to earn some money by offering free spaces for public parking. Rao mentioned about New York City where parking is the second largest revenue earner for the local body.

Allaying concerns about movement of pedestrians about lack of pathways, Rao said sky walks and pedestrian paths along the metro lines would make it comfortable for people.

While assuring that all the three stretches would be completed in a phased manner before next year, as against initial deadline of July 2017, Rao said that discussions are underway for finalising construction in the Old City. He hoped even this stretch struck up due to differences in alignment would be sorted out and construction taken up soon.

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