The Telangana cabinet has approved the expansion of the Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) by over 300 km. The estimated cost for this expansion is Rs 69,100 crore, and it is expected to be completed within five years. The managing director of HMRL, NVS Reddy, has stated that the preliminary project report will be submitted within four months, followed by the Detailed Project Report (DPR).
Reddy emphasized that the estimated cost is not an underestimation. He explained that due to the elevated nature of the Metro, the construction cost is lower compared to cities like Mumbai, Chennai, or Bengaluru, which have underground stretches. The Metro in Hyderabad can be constructed at Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore per km, while other cities would require Rs 600 crore to Rs 1,000 crore per km. This is because 25-meter right of way has already been dedicated along 156 km of the Outer Ring Road (ORR) for the Metro rail, minimizing the need for property acquisition. To further reduce costs, the viaduct’s height could be kept low at 3 meters above ground level and at grade level whenever possible.
The managing director mentioned that they are still in the early stages of the project. The preliminary project report is expected to be submitted in four months, but there may be changes after the preparation of the Detailed Project Report. He also noted that this expansion is likely to be a government-funded project, unlike Phase 1, which was a public-private partnership. However, the final decision will be made by the government.
