Telangana Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao on Thursday inspected construction work at the Oliphant Bridge, which is part of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR).
Stating that the 30-km stretch of the HMR from Miyapur to Nagole will be ready by November 20, KTR said that the Telangana government was hopeful that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate it on November 28.
“The inaugural ceremony will take place at Miyapur Metro depot and the PM may take a ride from Miyapur to Ameerpet. The state government is keen that PM Modi inaugurates the Metro rail project. Not only because the Hyderabad Metro is the biggest Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the world, but also due to the fact that it's being executed by Larsen & Toubro, an Indian multi-national company. The Prime Minister's Office has not yet given a confirmation on the inauguration date. If it is not possible on November 28, the TRS government will wait for another date for Modi to come and inaugurate," KTR told media persons.
KTR also justified the delay in the project, stating that the government didn't want to inaugurate just 8 km, which would serve no purpose.
“The Telangana government wants to cover at least 30 km from one end to the other, before throwing it open to the public," he was quoted as saying.
When asked about parking spaces for vehicles, KTR said that 34 places had been identified for multi-level parking areas, close to various Metro stations.
“These services will not be available as soon as Metro Rail services are launched. It will take some time for them to be developed. We do not want people to use their individual vehicles and cause traffic jam,” he said.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, inviting him to inaugurate the first phase of the project.
"Hyderabad Metro Rail is a prestigious Urban Elevated Mass Rapid Transit System, with over Rs 15,000 crore in capital investment and the largest project under Public Private Partnership (PPP) in the country," the letter read.
“As you have also kindly agreed to inaugurate the Global Entrepreneurs Summit being held in Hyderabad during November 28-31, Hyderabad Metro Rail inauguration can also be scheduled during the same visit," the letter added.
The entire project should have been completed and operational by July 2017, as per the concession agreement signed with the then united Andhra Pradesh government in 2010.
The HMRL has said that the main reason for the delay was due to land acquisition issues, following which the deadline was revised.
The first phase, which will be inaugurated, will stretch across 30 km from Nagole to Miyapur, via Ameerpet.
As of now, the deadline to make the project fully operational is December 2018.
Minister @KTRTRS inspecting Metro Rail works at Oliphenta Bridge along with Mayor @bonthurammohan MA & UD, @hmrgov officials pic.twitter.com/tFUwpjiUu5
— Min IT, Telangana (@MinIT_Telangana) September 21, 2017
Minister @KTRTRS interacting with workers of L&T Metro Rail during today's inspection of works at Oliphenta Bridge, Secunderabad @hmrgov pic.twitter.com/d9I4LRqjg9
— Min IT, Telangana (@MinIT_Telangana) September 21, 2017