The Hyderabad metro rail project has reached a decisive phase with foundation works for pillar for one of the three dense corridors commencing. The right of way for over 90 per cent of the project is ready.

The Rs 16, 000-crore, 72-km project will be implemented over two phases with first phase expected to be ready by 2014-end and the second by 2015. It is being executed by construction major Larson & Toubro Ltd. It had achieved financial closure early last year.

Land issues

According to Mr N.V.R. Reddy, Managing Director of Hyderabad Metro Rail, the issue of land acquisition is being addressed by offering a compensation of Rs 45,000 a sq yard.

The project implementation has been delayed by over two quarters due to land acquisition and related issues.

Cases have been filed seeking court intervention to resolve some concerns. Residents and shop owners of one of the stretches have filed a bunch of petitions questioning the project implementation passing through a dense locality of Ameerpet and another one at busy Sultanbazar.

Tramways act

A section of petitions have also raised issues relating to public hearing for the project, and the metro being implemented under the Tramways Act.

They have contended that it has to be taken up under the Railway enactment as is being done in other cities.

The Metro team has presented their case about various issues regarding the project and how all mandatory steps have been complied with.

The Andhra Pradesh High Court, earlier during the week, directed metro authorities to give an opportunity to the affected persons to present their views. The petitioners complained that the metro authorities have changed the alignment without consulting the affected people.

They felt that several issues relating to the project were kept guarded and therefore expressed the need to be heard before finalising plans.

The citizen petitioners also raised issues with regard to applicability of AP Tramways Act to this project.

They stated that this applied to vehicles which move at a slow pace and no for such projects. During the hearing, the L&T officials made a detailed presentation to the court.

The Court wanted detailed presentation with maps during next hearing.

>vrishi@thehindu.co.in

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