HYDERABAD: After a decade-long wait, the Hyderabad Metro Rail is set to become a reality today. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the 30-km stretch between Nagole and Miyapur. The service will be open for general public from Wednesday, plying from 6 am to 10 pm.
As Express had reported, the project overcame several hurdles in the process. This includes land acquisition, route alignment and default of contract by previous consortium of private partners led by Maytas Infra.
Ameerpet station, where interchange of corridors happen, has been built to be the jewel in the crown. The station measures 142 mts long and 40 m wide. It will house retail outlets, entertainment zones and convenience centres.
There will be an unpaid concourse level for pedestrians to cross lanes without interrupting traffic. The station has entry and exit points on all four sides. Intermediate floors have been created between the slabs to accommodate technical services. Eight lifts, 16 escalators and sufficient number of staircases have been provided.
Beyond all this, what makes the city Metro different is the way the stations have been designed. They are completely open. They are not supported from bottom, but are cantilevered.
The process utilises much less land. Like any other efficient transportation system, the Metro will try to be a hub that integrates other modes of commute like buses, auto-rickshaws and bicycles to ensure last mile connectivity.
The Baahubali Challenge
A major challenge faced during construction of rail system was placing of the mammoth Oliphanta Metro ROB weighing about 1100 tons in its designated spot near Secunderabad railway station. Two tall metro pillars with a length of 272 feet accommodated the massive steel box structure on their pier caps with great effort