Metro exploring options to change design
Hyderabad: The Metro Rail authorities, who met Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Tuesday, have assured him of exploring options in the present design of the alignment in Corridor I and II.
Chief Minister had advocated a change in the Metro Rail alignment and wanted the Metro Rail to go underground near the Assembly and make changes near Sultan Bazar to save historical structures. The CM wanted the Metro authorities to seek advice of eminent engineers to save the structures.
According to officials, Metro Rail authorities have offered to explore changes in the existing design. It is learnt that top officials from Metro informed the CM that they had spent `5,000 crore on the project till now and Corridor I from Nagole to Mettuguda was nearing completion.
They had informed that works at Uppal Depot were almost completed. The Metro authorities told the CM that any change at this juncture would escalate the cost of the project as the piers in Corridor I have already come up near the Assembly.
After detailed surveys, it was decided to go for elevated Metro at a cost of Rs 16,000 crore, the officials said. If Metro is taken underground, it would cost an additional `500 crore per km. The authorities had planned for a trial run in the 8-km stretch in Corridor I by March 2015 as an Ugadi gift for the people Hyderabad.
News Posted: 2 July, 2014
|
