Old City Metro Project Advances with ₹433 Crore Compensation for Property Owners

Rapid Summary

• Project Update: Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML) is accelerating work on the Old City Metro Rail project covering 7.5 km from MGBS (Imlibun) to Chandrayangutta.
• Road Widening Efforts: Over 550 structures demolished; ₹433 crore compensation paid to property owners. Remaining properties reduced to 886 from the initial estimate of 1,100 due to innovative engineering solutions.Roads are being widened to 100 ft as per the Master Plan, with preparations ongoing despite challenges like rain and festivals.
• Technical Preparations: DGPS surveys and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) are being used for precision mapping and identifying underground utilities like water, sewage, electricity, and telecom lines. Soil testing and geo-technical analysis have been conducted alongside efforts to protect sensitive heritage structures along the route alignment.
• construction Progress: Marking of pillar locations has begun using refined alignment techniques, while milestone markers placed every 100 meters guide construction toward Metro stations and pillars’ placement.

indian Opinion Analysis

The swift progress on the Old City Metro Rail stretch reflects an infrastructural push towards connecting historically underserved areas of Hyderabad with modern transportation systems. The use of advanced technology such as DGPS for mapping and GPR surveys ensures precision in construction planning while safeguarding heritage sites-a key consideration in a densely historical region like Old City.

Efforts to minimize land acquisitions through engineering optimizations substantially reduce disruptions for local residents while expediting project timelines-a promising approach for urban growth projects elsewhere in India seeking balance between expansion and heritage conservation.

Challenges such as weather disruptions or social events demonstrate resilience in execution but emphasize the need for robust contingency planning when undertaking aspiring urban renewal projects in populated areas with complex sociocultural dynamics.

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