Hyderabad: After many years of delays, the construction of the Old City metro in Hyderabad will finally start. An extra Rs 500 crore has been set aside in the state budget to extend the Hyderabad Metro Rail services to this area. This news has made the residents of the densely populated Old City happy and hopeful.
The foundation stone for the Old City Metro Rail was laid by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in March, after the Congress government came into power. Metro services in Hyderabad began in 2017, but the Old City metro rail works were halted at the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Stand.
Since 2022, there has been a strong demand for the metro rail in the Old City. People saw the benefits of metro connections from LB Nagar to Miyapur and Parade Ground to MGBS. The faster movement of people highlighted the lack of connectivity in the Old City, causing major discontent.
Residents have often felt that political promises about metro services in the Old City were just talk. During elections, the government led by K Chandrashekar Rao would announce plans for metro and other developments, but these were never carried out.
“The government aims to provide better infrastructure and expand the Metro to 78 km,” said Murtuza Mohsin, a software engineer and resident of Falaknuma. He added that Old City citizens hope the metro services will now begin to bridge the development gap.
Venkanna, a resident of Shalibanda, emphasized the need for metro services in the densely populated area to reduce traffic congestion. He believes that better connectivity will make movement faster.
Asif Hussain Sohail, another resident, pointed out that the same budget has been allocated for the last three years. He urged the current government to start metro services as promised by the Chief Minister, who called the Old City ‘Original Hyderabad’ and vowed to develop it equally with the new city.
He also mentioned that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) plays a major role in the project. They need to be proactive in property acquisition, ensure timely payments, and convince property owners.
According to Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL), the 5.5 km stretch is part of Corridor II of the Green Line from JBS to Falaknuma. Approximately 1,100 properties will be affected by road widening at metro station locations. The project is expected to cost around Rs 2,000 crore, including road widening and utility shifting.
The detailed project report states that the Metro will pass through Darulshifa, Purani Haveli, Etebar Chowk, Alijakotla, Mir Momin Daira, Haribowli, Shalibanda, Shamsheergunj, Aliabad, and end at Falaknuma. There will be four stations: Salarjung Museum, Charminar, Shalibanda, and Falaknuma.
