90% land acquisition completed for Hyderabad Old City Metro stretch
HYDERABAD: Land acquisition for the 7.5-km Old City Hyderabad Metro Rail stretch has reached nearly 90%, and authorities aim to complete the remaining process by the end of June for the ₹2,886-crore project.
Officials said 10 to 15 properties, mostly within the first kilometre near Darulshifa, continue to pose hurdles. Family disputes and multiple ownership claims have delayed the process.
Authorities identified 888 properties for acquisition. Disputes involving 10 properties have reached the High Court, which has reserved its judgment, officials said.
“We are handling about 20 to 30 properties, and around a dozen involve internal family disputes,” an official said. “In some cases, minors are heirs, so we are helping families open bank accounts before issuing awards.”
The official said compensation cannot be released until the disputes are resolved.
Families seek more time
Officials said several structures along the corridor are nearly a century old and hold emotional value for families. Some residents have also sought extra time because of personal commitments, including family marriages.
“We are not forcing people. We are convincing them patiently,” the official added.
Authorities described the acquisition exercise as one of the most challenging parts of the flagship infrastructure initiative under the Congress government.
Global consultant tender floated
Meanwhile, Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL) floated a global Request for Proposal (RFP) to appoint a General Consultant for Phase-II Corridor VI between Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and Chandrayangutta.
The consultant will supervise construction, testing and commissioning of the corridor. The consultant will also ensure compliance with technical and operational standards.
Hyderabad Airport Metro Ltd (HAML) will retain financial, technical and contract-related powers.
CM directs officials to speed up work
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recently directed officials to speed up land acquisition and complete Metro works up to Chandrayangutta within the stipulated timeline.
During a review meeting in April, the chief minister stressed the need for timely execution of development projects. He identified the Old City Metro corridor as a priority initiative.
