Demolition for road widening in Darul Shifa in the Old City is underway so as to make way for the Hyderabad Metro Rail in Hyderabad.
| Photo Credit: SIDDHANT THAKUR
The ongoing demolition of properties for the 7.5-km Old City Metro stretch from MGBS to Chandrayangutta as part of the road widening for the ‘Right of Way’ to build the metro line for the proposed Phase-II of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project is likely to pick up pace after the Holy month of Ramzan.
The metro project being taken up by the special purpose vehicle of the State government — Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML) — has been making steady progress on the acquisition of properties and demolition ever since the work began last year.
The 5.5 km stretch between Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Falaknuma was originally planned as part of the Phase-I of HMR to complete the Corridor II or the Green Corridor from Jubilee Bus Station (JBS). A third depot was supposed to come up at Falaknuma in addition to Uppal and Miyapur depots.
But, the stretch was held up due to various reasons in 2009 and Old City citizens were denied the metro rail line connectivity with rest of the twin cities. With Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy keen on extending the line up to Chandrayangutta where a joint station is proposed to be built connecting to the international airport at Shamshabad and also with the Owaisi brothers on board, work is finally happening.
The HAML agency has been able to get 325 individual consents and 216 through awards for the properties to enable demolitions for road widening for the metro rail through the Old City of Hyderabad.
| Photo Credit:
SIDDHANT THAKUR
Property acquisition for this stretch alone will cost up to ₹1,000 crore, including compensation for land and structures, out of the estimated cost of ₹2,714 crore. It is part of the 76.4 km ₹24,269 crore HMR Phase-II with new lines planned from — Nagole to RGIA (36.8 km), Raidurg to Kokapet (11.6 km), Miyapur to Patancheru (13.4 km) and LB Nagar to Hayatnagar (7.1 km).
The Centre is currently evaluating the Detailed Project Report (DPR) submitted by the Telangana government for taking it up as a joint venture with major funding from international funding agencies.
HAML Manging Director N.V.S. Reddy informed that 80 properties have been lined for demolitions out of which 39 properties have been demolished and demolition of 41 more properties is in various stages of progress. About 1,100 properties in total have been identified for land acquisition and notifications were issued for about 980 by Hyderabad District Collector Anudeep Durishetty. Preliminary declarations have also been made for about 400 properties as per the Land Acquisition Act.
“We have been getting lot of enquiries from the property owners about the consent awards because the funds disbursal is faster. Majority of the properties being taken over through the LA Act has also been through mutual consent as the government is liberal with the compensation, including structural compensation,” said Mr. Reddy.
The HAML agency has been able to get 325 individual consents and 216 through awards for the properties so far. More than 500 cheques have been distributed, including 285 for land value and 215 for relief and rehabilitation to the property owners under the LA Act, with the average rate working out to be about ₹1 lakh or a wee bit more for a square yard.
“Its a bustling commercial area during the Ramzan month, hence we are carefully going about our work. In any case, it will take up to eight months before we complete all the demolitions after which we can do marking for road widening, etc. We are expecting more voluntary consents because of the attractive compensation package,” said the MD.
HAML has already disbursed more than ₹200 crore with the Chief Minister, having sanctioned sufficient funds, personally supervising the work since he is said to be keen to complete the work within four years. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi and AIMIM Floor Leader in the Legislative Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi have also been in the forefront in interacting with the property owners ensuring the works are as per schedule.
Published – March 15, 2025 08:05 am IST