The Hyderabad Metro expansion to the Old City is making steady progress. Authorities have started marking properties for road widening, and property acquisition has also begun.
The project officially began in January with the demolition of buildings along the Alijah Kotla – Moghalpura – Diara Mir Momin stretch. This extension will cover a 7.5 km route in the Old City. According to officials, demolition started with buildings where owners had already received compensation. The areas affected include Darulshifa, Mir Alam Mandi, Alijah Kotla, Bibi Bazar, and Moghalpura.
The road near Mir Alam Mandi has been marked for widening to accommodate the metro rail construction. Currently, property marking is being carried out in neighborhoods such as Hari Bowli, Shah Ali Banda, Aliabad, and Engine Bowli. Officials stated that after Ramzan, property acquisition will speed up to ensure faster progress.
According to Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL), Rs 1,000 crore will be given as compensation for the acquisition of 1,100 properties along the 7.5 km route. So far, requisitions for 900 properties have been submitted to the District Collector under the Land Acquisition Act. Preliminary notifications have already been issued for 800 properties in different phases.
Property owners in the Old City will receive compensation at a rate of Rs 65,000 per square yard. In addition to this, those who are displaced will also receive structural compensation along with resettlement and rehabilitation benefits.
Since the metro route passes near 103 religious and heritage structures, including mosques, temples, dargahs, and graveyards, officials have assured that these will be preserved. They explained that special engineering solutions will be used to adjust the placement of pillars and stations to avoid any damage. No heritage or religious structures will be demolished or affected, as road widening will not take place near such locations.
