Hyderabad: The Larsen&Toubro (L&T), construction major has been granted an extension of 17 months to complete the Hyderabad Metro Rail project till November 2018.
The decision has been taken after many rounds of meetings between the government, the concessionaire L&TMRHL (L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited) and the independent engineer Louis Berger. The government agreed to give an extension of 17 months as there are court cases over the acquisition of critical properties, TNM reports.
The extension will make it possible for L&T to complete the entire Hyderabad Metro Rail project, other than the 5 km stretch and about 1 km stretch between Hitec City and Raidurg (planned later), by November 2018. The government has, therefore, agreed to this time extension of 17 months, NVS Reddy, Managing Director of HMRL said.
The HMRL has been directed to be prepared for the launch of the completed stretches of the project in the next few months and also to complete corridor-I (Miyapur-LB Nagar: 29 km) and corridor-III (Nagole-Hitec City: 27 km) by the end of this year.
A section in the Old City is still uncertain due to objections raised on its alignment. The project cost is likely to increase as the project has been delayed and going beyond the schedule, also due to right of way issues in completing some sections of the project, including lack of clarity on old city route.
According to sources, the government is looking at launching when both the corridors get completed.