Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd, developing a 72-km-long elevated metro rail network across three dense corridors in the city, expects to commission a 11-km segment by the middle of this year, and another 18-km stretch later in the year.

The concessionaire, L&T, expects to complete the entire project by June 2018, according to NVS Reddy, Managing Director of HMRL.

The elevated metro project was to be completed by June 2017. However, it was delayed on account of right of way issues and more than 350 court cases. The project works were hit in sections where property and land acquisition was involved.

The HMRL MD said a project of such a magnitude has not been attempted in the public-private partnership mode. In spite of challenges and opposition, it had reached a critical phase of its execution.

Most of the work was now being handled at higher levels, including metro stations and rail over-bridges, in zones with heavy traffic near railways stations and busy intersections.

“Of the 72-km metro network, we expect to complete 66 km of the metro work. However, alignment with regard to a line which goes through the Old City is to be sorted out,” he said.

Talking about works currently underway near a yard close to Secunderabad railway station, Reddy said metro works where the lines cross over the rail work are being executed in coordination with the Railways.

Of the eight rail over-bridges, work at a couple of bridges is being taken up with steel girder-based bridges similar to those laid on rivers.

Outlining the project progress, Reddy said the foundation for a 62-km stretch has been laid and pillars have been constructed over a 60-km stretch, viaducts placed on 51 km and 35 of 66 stations have so far been completed.

While it would have been possible to commission two segments of the metro project in phase one itself, it was decided to commission one section later this year and follow this up with a longer stretch of 18 km at the end of the year.

“We expect work on two corridors to be ready in all aspects by December 2017 and all of 66 km by June 2018,” he said.

Asked about cost escalation, he said the concession agreement has various provisions related to delays and cost escalation and it would be handled accordingly.

Describing the works at the rail over-bridges as an engineering marvel, he said work on most of the ROBs had gathered pace and were at an advanced stage of completion.