The project is moving ahead at a fast pace, say officials.
Chief Secretary Dr. P K Mohanty conducted a Special Task Force (STF) meeting on Thursday, and reviewed the progress of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project.
Making a detailed presentation, HMR's managing director, N V S Reddy, said that the project is moving ahead at a fast pace, and that so far, 780 foundations (21 km), 625 pillars (17.5 km), 3,700 segments (sufficient for 11 km) have been completed, and that an elevated viaduct has been erected over 4.5 km.
He said that 70% of works at Uppal depot and 40% of works at Miyapur depot have also been completed.
Based on the presentation, Chief Secretary Dr. Mohanty instructed the traffic police to accord permission for more work fronts wherever two lanes are available on either side after barricades are erected on the road.
HMR and L&TMRHL have been asked to carry out road improvement works and adopt traffic management solutions, including diversion of traffic to alternate routes, to enable the smooth flow of traffic.
L&TMRHL has been asked to finish laying foundations and pillar erection works in critical stretches in core areas of the city, and to reduce the widths of barricades within 2 to 3 months.
APTRANSCO has been asked to complete substations at Uppal and Miyapur depots as per schedule.
Mohanty instructed the Commissioner, GHMC, and Collectors of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy, to expedite the acquisition of properties on critical stretches, for road-widenin for right of way and for smooth flow of traffic.
APCPDCL has been asked to expedite furnishing estimates for 231 electrical poles, 28 distribution transformers and 30 other electrical installations.
R&B and NH authorities have been instructed to take up restoration of road cuttings on priority - the cost of this will be borne by HMR.
Foot-over-Bridges (FoBs) will be removed by HMR as and when required - mainly for erections of elevated viaducts.
Defence authorities will expedite handing over three acres of land to HMR after the allocation of suitable encumbrance-free land by the Collector of Ranga Reddy district.
SC Railway has been instructed to expedite the handing over of affected properties in the Secunderabad Station area to HMR. HMR will have to pay SCR pay market rates for these lands.
The Railways have also been asked to quicken the approval of engineering designs for the construction of 8 Metro Rail crossings over the existing railway lines.
The Water Board will complete the shifting of ongoing water lines and sewer lines, and expedite the pending estimates for balance works to be taken up by L&TMRHL.
The Chief Secretary also advised HMDA Commissioner N K Prasad and HMR MD N V S Reddy to jointly develop a master plan for future Metro Rail extensions in the extended HMDA area, keeping the future needs of the fast-expanding city in mind.
He said that Metro Rail, MMTS, the main railway line, national and state highways and major bus depots should all be integrated. He added that a transit-oriented development approach must be adopted as per global best practices.
MA&UD Principal Secretary B Sam Bob, R&B Principal Secretary S P Singh, Revenue Principal Secretary B R Meena, GHMC Commissioner M T Krishna Babu, Water Board MD J Syamala Rao, Finance Secretary L Premchandra Reddy, Hyderabad Collector S A M Rizvi, Cyberabad Police Commissioner C V Anand, L&TMRHL MD V B Gadgil and other senior officers of various central and state departments/organizations participated in
the meeting. (INN)