Airport Metro: HAML MD NVS Reddy walks 10 km to examine station locations

HYDERABAD: In order to fine-tune the Airport Metro alignment and to examine different options for ideal station locations, Hyderabad Airport Metro Ltd (HAML) Managing Director NVS Reddy inspected a 10 km stretch between Narsingi underpass (My Home Avatar junction) to Rajendranagar hillock on Sunday.

Walking the entire length of about 10 km along with other senior engineers, the MD examined every aspect of the alignment and gave the following guidelines/directives:

1.Airport Metro alignment will be finalised in such a way that acquisition of private properties is either avoided or minimized to the extent technically feasible.

2.The road underpasses of the ORR shall be made use of by locating the Airport metro stations nearer to them for giving easy access to the passengers coming from different colonies and roads where large scale development is taking place.

3.Metro viaduct shall be planned without curves and gradients at some identified places to facilitate future construction of a few additional stations to cater to the high rise commercial and residential buildings under construction in the vicinity of the corridor.

4.Skywalks and other pedestrian facilities shall be made an integral part of station planning to make Airport Metro a success from day one of its operations.

5.Metro pillars shall be located in the central median of the widened service road from Nanakramguda junction to TSPA (APPA) junction, to facilitate smooth flow of road traffic which is already very high on the service road.

6.The access points of the stations shall be dovetailed to the new cycle track being laid, for making use of it as an additional facility to reach the stations in an eco-friendly way.

7.The technical feasibility of easing the curves at some locations shall be examined to avoid speed restrictions and to ensure smooth rid.

8.Suitable open Government lands near the corridor shall be identified for development of parking facilities for the stations and for establishment of temporary casting yards to expedite the project.