Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday congratulated Hyderabad Metro Rail for receiving the Best Engineering Project of the year by the Sixth Annual Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum Conference, currently being held in New York.
The Chief Minister said that the global recognition won by Hyderabad Metro Rail will boost the competitive advantage of Andhra Pradesh and attract more investments to the State and the country. The Global Infrastructure Forum on February 28, selected Hyderabad Metro Rail as the Engineering Project of the Year out of 100 top global infrastructure projects. The Chief Minister, while hailing the Hyderabad Metro Rail for winning the coveted award asked HMRL to work with utmost dedication and clear milestones to complete the project with World Class standards right on schedule.
It may be stated here that three projects, namely, Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (USD $7 bn; Rs.37,800 cr) of Azerbaijan, Hyderabad Metro Rail (USD $2.6 bn; Rs.14,132 crs) of India and Al Abdaliyah Integrated Solar Combined Cycle Plant of Kuwait, were shortlisted for the final round and competed for the award. Based on intense evaluation of multiple parameters and the Power Point presentation made by Managing Director of Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd NVS Reddy, the Hyderabad Metro Rail project was finally awarded the coveted top prize.
Four other awards were presented including, Job Creation Project of the Year award to Detroit River International Crossing/Champlain Bridge(USD 3.5 bn; Rs. 18,900 cr) of Canada; Green Infrastructure Project of the Year to the Renewable Energy Independent Power Producers (USD 5.4 bn, Rs.29,160 cr) of South Africa; Finance Project of the Year to Rio de Janeiro Airport Concession (USD 3.2 bn; Rs 17,280 cr) of Brazil; and Strategic Project of the Year to Etihad Rail (USD 11 bn; 59,400 cr) of the United Arab Emirates.
The Global Infrastructure Leadership Forum, supported by several top global consultancy and infrastructure firms, had initially selected 100 projects from around the world as the Strategic Hundred based on several criteria such as business opportunity, productivity creation, competitiveness creation, job creation and carbon efficiency. These top global 100 infrastructure projects had been identified for their ability to create world class infrastructure in their respective sectors and regions and to contribute to the competitiveness and economic development of their respective countries/regions.
HMR Managing Director NVS Reddy along with Municipal Administration and Urban Development Principal Secretary B Sam Bob and Secretary to CM Dr KS Jawahar Reddy received the Engineering Project of the Year award from Chief Executive Officer of Aconex, Leigh Jasper and President and CEO of CG/LA Infrastructure, Norman Anderson in New York on Thursday, February 28 at a function attended by around 400 top public and private sector executives, bankers, financial experts, consultants and industry leaders specializing in infrastructure projects.
While presenting the awards, Leigh Jasper said that the Project of the Year Awards recognize exceptional projects and exceptional leadership. Norman Anderson stated that the winning projects not only represent best practices, but also mobilize this generation’s legacy for the next generation and that they are literally our design for the future.
Appreciating the presentation delivered by NVS Reddy on the Hyderabad Metro Rail and its innovative financial and engineering design, Nuria Fernandez, head of New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) expressed that the United States of America should follow similar innovative practices. (INN)