Hyderabad: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has made a significant decision to put the current Airport alignment plan for the Metro Rail development project on hold. The Chief Minister believes that the Airport Metro alignment should not go through the GO111 area along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) because there is already good transportation available there. Instead, he has asked officials to prepare alternative alignments from MGBS-Falaknuma and from LB Nagar via Chandrayangutta.
During a review of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project, expansion plans, and Airport Metro project, the CM stated that the alignment should prioritize the central and eastern parts of the city, as well as the Old city. He believes that the city should be developed and expanded in all directions, without any geographical limitations. The CM also emphasized the importance of creating satellite townships around the ORR and providing affordable and fast connectivity through the Metro Rail.
Revanth has directed the MD of HMRL to prepare cost-effective alternatives for the Airport Metro alignment, either through Mailardevpally, Jalpally, and P7 Road, or through Barkas-Pahadishareef and Srisailam Road. He suggested that if a straight line alignment can save costs, it can pass through open areas of the Airport premises since the land belongs to the government.
Furthermore, the CM advised senior officers to plan for an environmentally friendly mega township near Kandukur for Pharma City. He wants to ensure that Pharma City is not located near Hyderabad but in a distant place. He also instructed the MD of HMRL to plan for Metro Rail connectivity to this mega new city from the Airport area via Tukkuguda on Srisailam Road.
Revanth expressed dissatisfaction with how several benefits have been given to the Metro Rail Concessionaire L&TMRHL despite their failure to complete a 5.5 km stretch in the Old city. He has ordered an investigation into the matter to protect the government’s interests.
Lastly, the CM encouraged senior officers to consider Hyderabad’s potential to be a logistics and medical hub between Western and Gulf countries and South East Asia. He also wants them to plan for a dry port, considering that Telangana is a landlocked state.
