December 02, 2008

Hyderabad metro rail project cost revised

Project today reported that the government has once again revised the Hyderabad metro rail project cost from the INR 9,696 crore to INR 11,814 crore due to the increasing traffic density in the city. The project cost has been revised for the fourth time by the Union government. Meanwhile, the Hyderabad Metro Rail has postponed opening of financial bids due to revision of project cost.

When the detailed project reports were prepared by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation in 2003 the project cost was INR 6,746 for 2 corridors Chaitanyapuri to Miyapur and Secunderabad to Falaknuma. Later, it was decided to add another corridor from Habsiguda to Hi Tec City. The project cost was revised to INR 8,482 crore and the corridors were extended to 77 kilometer from 67 kilometer. The metro corridor was extended up to Nagole from Habsiguda and Shilparmam from Hi Tec City. As a result of this the cost has increased to INR 9,696 crore.

Hyderabad Metro Rail officials had proposed 219 coaches for metro trains on all 3 routes namely LB Nagar to Miyapur, JBS to Falaknuma and Nagole to Shilparamam based on traffic projections for 2008. Since the traffic flow scene has changed drastically in the last 5 years the Centre has decided to take traffic projections till 2013 by when the metro rail project is expected to be completed and increase the number of coaches in the trains.

Though traffic experts have recommended 372 coaches for all the 3 corridors, the central government has sanctioned 327 coaches.