HMRL speeds up Rs.14,023 cr Phase-II expansion

The state government has decided to fast track the Phase-II expansion of the metro corridor between Biodiversity Park and Shamshabad Airport section of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project entailing an estimated investment of Rs.14,023 crore. The cost of the other corridors of the second phase will be shared by the state and central governments. A decision to this effect was taken on the recommendation of the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which prepared the preliminary project report. This corridor connectivity to the airport, which the state government will pay for, will cost Rs.4,645 crore, whereas metro rail experts and Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMRL) authorities felt that since phase-II is being implemented in relatively less dense corridors than Phase-I and hence it is unlikely that private investors will fund the project given the overall national economic scenario, phase-II should be a complete government’s project. Among the identified phase-II corridors, the airport corridor from Biodiversity Park to Shamshabad Airport with extension of Corridor 3 from Raidurg to Biodiversity Park (30.7 km) is an immediate priority as metro connectivity to the airport will boost the image of Hyderabad as a global investment destination, said an official spokesperson.