Hyderabad Metro won't roll from June 2

Metro rail services to be launched from June 2, are in for disappointment as the L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Ltd said that it would not be possible to launch the services from this date.

The main reason for the delay was purely technical, according to L&TMRHL Chief Executive and Managing Director V B Gadgil. There were several aspects like security, electricity and staff to man the stations that was delaying the launch. “Ticketing facility needs to be put in place to begin commercial operations,” he said.

T Minister K T Rama Rao had stated during GHMC elections that the Metro Rail would start operating from the Telangana State formation day on June 2. The projected deadline for completion of Metro Rail would be by December 2018, said Gadgil.

font-size: 10pt;">The Rs 14,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail project was aimed to be completed by July 2017 but there was delay on account of various reasons like changes in alignment, land acquisition and other issues resulted in stretching the project to another year.

As part of the first stage, work was completed to a stretch of 19 to 21 kilometres. The hurdles were very few and the civil works progressing smoothly. “We are working rapidly wherever the work is going on. By December 2018, all the three corridors, including the one passing through the Old City will be completed,” said Gadgil.

Regarding the Old City route, Gadgil said, “The government is in deliberations. But we are not party to those deliberations and the government said it will let us know about the decision.” There was no dialogue with the government on the extension of Metro Rail, he added.