Hyderabad Metro Rail authorities are planning to introduce a heritage design once the project goes into the Old City for street-level infrastructure such as railings, footpaths and parking bays, with Nampally station precincts chosen for special attention.
With rest of the Corridor One (Red Line) from Ameerpet to L.B. Nagar spreading over 16 km slated to be thrown open to the public in a few months, the stretch from the overhead metro station to the Nampally railway station will be barricaded with steel railings to an extent of 18 feet to 20 feet so passengers can tow their luggage straight in, without any obstruction.
“We will have three lanes each for vehicular traffic on either side for entry and exit of the railway station. The lane adjacent to the railing will be for autos to park. Cobbled stones will be laid on these stretches to give a distinct look,” said HMR managing director N.V.S. Reddy.
With Municipal Administration Secretary Arvind Kumar already involved in refurbishing the M.J. market and environs, HMR wants to change the entire pedestrian landscape leading into and outside the market, including the Jambagh area with street furniture, wide footpaths of 10 feet and sufficient space for hawking and parking bays.
Street-level infrastructure has been put in place across the 30 km inaugural route of Nagole-Ameerpet-Miyapur below the overhead stations and has been received well by the commuters. This work will also be extended along all the other metro rail sections which are slated to be opened in the coming months, he said.
The MD said most of the work from Ameerpet to L.B. Nagar has been completed and trial runs are expected to begin soon.
“These will be continued for up to one-and-a-half month before we hand over the stretch to the Commissioner of Metro Rail Safety (CMRS) by July 15 to obtain safety certification that would enable public travel,” explained Mr. Reddy.
Ameerpet to Hi-Tec City route on Corridor Three of Nagole to Hi-Tec City (Blue Line) of about 12 km is expected to be ready by October-end. Right now, overhead electric traction is being laid with most stations en-route ready ‘by and large’. Corridor II - Jubilee Bus Station to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) is expected to be ready by March next year and the stretch between Badichowdi and Koti is to have elements of local ambience.
Another engineering feat is currently under way near the Osmania Medical College, from where Corridor Two metro line coming from Sultan Bazar is being built above Corridor One metro line, coming from M.J. Market and moving into Jambagh.
Thus, two metro lines are being built one above other for a distance of 300 metres with help of 10 portal piers till Rangmahal, before meeting at the MGBS interchange station. Corridor Two metro line will end at MGBS while Corridor One metro line will move towards Malakpet, he added.