Hyderabad Metro’s Old City Expansion Picks Up Speed
Hyderabad’s dream of better connectivity is getting closer to reality. The Old City Metro Corridor project is moving fast, thanks to dedicated efforts from the Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML). On Sunday, HAML Managing Director N.V.S. Reddy shared exciting updates on the progress.
Land acquisition and property demolitions along the 7.5 km stretch have hit a key milestone. Teams now have almost all the required Right of Way (RoW), clearing the path for construction. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s push has sped up the Hyderabad Metro Rail expansion works. Reddy assured everyone that the team is working hard to bring Metro Rail connectivity to the Old City, fulfilling a long-standing wish for locals.
Originally, planners estimated 1,100 properties would need demolition, but smart engineering tweaks reduced that to just 886. So far, over 550 structures are down, and crews are tackling the rest. Property owners have received Rs 433 crore in compensation, making the process smoother for affected families.
Challenges like heavy rains, festivals, and Muharram didn’t slow things down much. The team handled tricky tasks, such as removing complex electrical cables, without disrupting daily life in the area. Reddy praised the smooth progress despite these hurdles.
Preparations for building Metro pillars and stations are in full gear. Key activities include precise DGPS surveys for accurate mapping—far better than old-school methods. This high-tech tool, combined with earlier drone surveys, helps speed up the Hyderabad Metro project. The corridor is split into segments with control points using advanced GNSS receivers for spot-on positioning.
Underground utilities pose another big task. Old roads hide water lines, sewage pipes, stormwater drains, electricity cables, and telecom wires. To widen the road to 100 feet as per the master plan, agencies like Hyderabad Water Board, GHMC, TGSPDCL, and BSNL are teaming up to shift these. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) surveys detect hidden structures below the surface, ensuring safe relocations.
Soil testing and geotechnical analysis are underway to check ground strength and water levels. These checks confirm that Metro foundations can handle the weight—essential before any construction starts.
The route weaves through sensitive heritage sites, so planners adjusted the alignment to protect them. Now, pillar spots are marked, with milestone markers every 100 meters to guide the builders.
With these steps, the Old City Metro Corridor in Hyderabad looks set to transform travel for residents. Stay tuned for more updates on this game-changing infrastructure project!
