Governor Flags off Ameerpet - L B Nagar Metro Route

Governor E S L Narasimhan today flagged off the much-awaited 16 km Ameerpet - L B Nagar metro stretch and traveled in it along with ministers including K T Rama Rao, Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Padma Rao Goud and Srinivas Yadav, MP Malla Reddy, and officials including Chief Secretary S K Joshi, HMR MD N V S Reddy, GHMC Commissioner Dana Kishore, Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar and Sports Academy chairman A Venkateshwar Reddy.

Speaking on the occasion, the Governor expressed satisfaction at the new transport option that he expressed hope would lower pollution and reduce traffic besides offering a quick and comfortable commute.

The Governor also asked the HMR officials to complete the Hitec City metro stretch by December 15, and ensure that all stations were clean and green. He also asked the HMR and L&T consortium officials to ensure that one smart card could be used by the public for availing themselves of all the facilities at the metro stations.

Speaking on the occasion, K T Rama Rao said that the Hyderabad Metro was the best in the country after the Delhi Metro. The project was the biggest ever taken up in the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode, and 46 stations had turned operational so far for the people of the city, he said. He also said that every necessary facility had been provided in all the metro stations that had been launched so far.

"We have used high-end technology, and completed the works of the metro in record time," KTR claimed. He however admitted that the launch of the Ameerpet - L B Nagar stretch was delayed by about a month due to the security permissions coming in later than expected.