Hyderabad Metro - to be the Ugliest in India?

Hyderabad Metro to be the Ugliest in India By Dr C. Ramachandraiah.

As it is, an elevated corridor itself makes the streets ugly in the thickly built core areas with the corridors at heights of 40-70 feet. Now, imagine if the corridors at such heights have overhead electric cables to run the metro rails (like the normal Indian Railways). What happened to the tall claims of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) and L&T officials that this metro will be the most advanced in India? The story of HMR getting more bizarre as the time passes! 

The latest in the metro rail technology is to supply electricity through a Third Rail that runs between the two tracks. The moving train derives power from this Third  Rail. The Delhi metro rail has opted for it between Delhi and Gurgaon. The Bangalore metro rail too is operating on the Third Rail technology.  Further, this system costs over 25 % less than the traditional AC traction system. Then what prevents them from adopting it in Hyderabad? How can they claim this metro to be eco-friendly? If not adopted, then what is the latest about this metro when they are adopting outdated technology? Strangely, they are citing the lack of engineers and safety of passengers as reasons. Both reasons appear false.

Imagine the streets of Hyderabad and the three corridors criss-crossing the city over the flyovers and railway lines. At three places, the metro corridors themselves have to cross over each other (Ameerpet, Patny and Kothi). Elevated corridors passing over the electric lines above another corridor! At four places over the flyovers (Greenlands, Punjagutta, Nalgonda cross roads, HiTec city). At eight places or so, they have to cross railway bridges, the prominent one being at Malakpet.

Imagine at what heights will the electric lines be? And in the thickly built streets, is it not dangerous for the residences abutting the corridors (at 30 ft away) from those electric cables? Doesn’t this indicate that Hyd metro will be the ugliest metro in India? Isn’t it also true that the concerned officials have been hoodwinking the public about its socalled ‘state of the art’ technology?

We have been arguing from the beginning that this metro is being built on lies and false claims. We assure you again that we will prove right in the coming period also.

Read more on this in the TOI news item:

http://epaper.timesofindia.com/Default/Scripting/ArticleWin.asp?From=Archive&Source=Page&Skin=TOINEW&BaseHref=TOIH/2013/01/06&PageLabel=2&EntityId=Ar00201&ViewMode=HTML

High Court stays works on a key stretch of Metro Corridor-3

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Thursday stayed the execution of all works of the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) pertaining to corridor three between Greenlands and Shilparamam. The stay orders were given by Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, who was hearing a writ petition filed by a group of affected people who formed a Joint Action Committee. Their contention was that the metro rail alignment in respect of Ameerpet-Greenlands stretch was realigned without consulting the people whose properties would have to be demolished.

Some of the excerpts relevant points from the judgment are - 

- The effort of the HMR appears to be, to shield or immunise itself from any plausible objections, and unfortunately the State, in its anxiety to spread a red-carpet to a private agency, has chosen to violate and break the law, enacted by itself.

- It is not out of place to mention that the very purpose of enacting the A.P. Tramways Act was, keeping in view the present ‘Metro Railway Project’.  So much of urgency was felt that an ordinance was issued and later on, it became an Act.

- Metro Rail was granted on earlier occasion in favour of an agency, in a similar clandestine manner, keeping the entire project away from public scrutiny.  At least when its decision turned out to be a blunder, it ought to have been careful and followed the procedure prescribed under the relevant provisions of law.

- Acceptance of the contention of the respondents would lead to disastrous consequences.  A scheme, which involves transfer of vast extents of Government land, acquisition of large number of private properties, dislocation of the road transport system for a considerable time, conferring of the largesse of a high magnitude upon a private agency, cannot take place without reference to any public opinion.  

(Note: we will upload the judgment copy soon - C.R)

Corridor 3 works halted by High Court

Halt ‘corridor three' metro rail works, says court

HYDERABAD, February 11, 2012,

The State government on Friday gave an undertaking before Justice L. Narasimha Reddy of the Andhra Pradesh High Court that it would not proceed with any construction activity relating to Alignment III of the Metro Rail in the city that passes through the areas from Greenlands to Yousufguda via Ameerpet and Srinagar Colony.The judge was dealing with a writ petition filed by Greenlands, Ameerpet, Madhuranagar, Yousufguda, SriKrishna Nagar Joint Action Committee and 20 others.

They contended that the proposed route for the third corridor was prepared without regard to the efficacy of the alternative route initially approved/tentatively decided for the said segment. Counsel appearing for the petitioners said that the authorities were not filing their response before the court on the one hand, and, on the other, proceeding with work on the field.

The pleader represeting the State government assured the Hight Court that the government would not carry out any operations until it comes up with a counter affidavit in this regard.

Growing resistance to the metro rail

Bandh against Metro Rail Corridor-III total

S. Bachan Jeet Singh, The New Indian Express, 15 Oct 2011

HYDERABAD: Slogans of ‘Metro rail should go underground’, ‘Say no to metro rail and save our businesses and families’ and ‘Metro rail is a real estate business and Hyderabadis don’t want such a project’ rented the air when hundreds of businessmen of Greenlands, Krishna Nagar, Yousufguda, Madhura Nagar and other places took out a massive rally in the city on Friday after observing a total trade bandh against the proposed Metro Rail Corridor-III route. The Metro Rail Corridor- III between Nagole and Shilparamam, covers Greenlands, Krishna Nagar, Yousufguda, Madhura Nagar and other areas. For the full item, go to -

http://expressbuzz.com/cities/hyderabad/bandh-against-metro-rail-corridor-iii-total/323637.html

Shops shut down at Ameerpet-Greenlands Road
(Photo by C. R, 14 Oct 2011)

City traders’ bandh against Metro Rail

Times of India, Hyderabad, 15 October 2011

TRS which has been demanding a change in the metro rail plan at Sultan Bazaar, participated in the protest at Ameerpet with party MLA K Tarakarama Rao and its politburo member D Shravan Kumar joining the traders. The leaders promised traders that they will take up the matter at an all-party meeting. A N Shankar, a trader from Ameerpet said, “Hundreds of families will get affected due to this project and it is time the government took a serious note of it. This is nothing but discrimination against small-time traders.” He added, “It is surprising that there was no debate or discussion on this project by the government.”  R Sayanna, a resident of Krishnanagar who has been actively opposing the metro rail project said, “If there are underground metro routes in several countries, why can’t it be here. This is more of a real estate business than a metro rail project.” Another protestor N Kumar from Krishnanagar said that this was only the beginning of the agitation and in future if the problem is not resolved they would not let metro work begin.

Protest meeting at Ameerpet cross roads (Photo by C.R)

Hyderabad: Total bandh was observed by traders at Ameerpet, Madhuranagar, Yousufguda and Krishnanagar on Friday against the proposed metro rail corridor that would go through this stretch. Traders held protest rallies and demanded that the government either opt for an underground corridor or change its route. Hundreds of shops remained closed along the stretch through the day and the protesting traders were joined by the local residents who extended support to them.