Jubilee-Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station Stretch Of Hyderabad Metro Gets Safety Clearance

The metro rail connectivity in India’s pharmaceutical capital Hyderabad is set to improve, with authorities issuing safety clearance to the 11-km stretch between Jubilee Bus Station and Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station. This Green Line corridor of the Hyderabad Metro rail project is the last one to be opened under Phase-I. Once operational, this stretch with nine stations will reduce the travel time between the two places by half hour. Currently, it takes nearly 45 minutes by road to travel the distance.

In November 2019, the 1.5-km stretch between Hitec City and Raidurg on the Blue Line was opened for public use. In March 2019, the 10-km stretch between Ameerpet and Hi Tec City was inaugurated, marking the completion of 56 km of the 72-km project.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had inaugurated the 30-km stretch between Miyapur and Nagole in November 2017. In September 2018, another 16-km stretch of Hyderabad Metro between Ameerpet to L B Nagar was commissioned.

The Metro project, apart from being a means of high-speed transport, also aims to keep the city green and pollution-free. According to official estimates, the city's population will reach 13.6 million by 2021 and the newly-launched Metro network will play a crucial role in curbing private vehicle ownership in the city.

Key features of the Hyderabad Metro Network

• The Union Urban Development Ministry gave its approval to the Hyderabad Metro in 2003, and asked the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to help with the initial planning. 

• The 73-km-long network, being developed under Phase-I, will cover three high-density traffic corridors of the city. The first corridor between Miyapur and LB Nagar will have 24 stations, the second corridor between JBS and Falaknuma will have 16 stations and the third corridor between Nagole and Shilparamam will have 23 stations.

• Being developed on a design-build-finance-operate-transfer (DBFOT) basis on a public-private partnership model by operator Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd (HMRL), the project is estimated to cost over Rs 15,000 crore.

• There are plans to integrate the Metro network with other public transport systems like the Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) and Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation (APSRTC).

• The train speed would range between a maximum of 80 kmph (kilometre per hour) and a minimum of 34 kmph. The Metro network is expected to bring down travel time by a huge margin. For instance, the second corridor will cover the total 15-km distance between Jubilee Bus Station to Falaknuma in 22 minutes. By bus, this distance is covered in an hour and 10 minutes.

• During peak hours, the Metro would have a frequency of three to five minutes and the network is expected to carry over 17 lakh passengers per day. This number is expected to reach 24 lakh by 2024.

• All stations will have air-conditioned Merry-Go-Round mini-bus services, giving passengers an easy connectivity to nearby places.

• The eco-friendly travel mode is also expected to bring down noise and air pollution in the city.

• The architecture of stations will have a mix of local flavours and latest designs.

• While the project looks to keep demolition exercises as low as possible, it is also planned that only government land will be used to create parking areas.