The much-awaited Hyderabad Metro Rail, after undergoing unexpected hiccups and delays, is now all set to commence operations with Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagging it off on Tuesday.
The first phase of the 30-km-long metro rail project between Miyapur and Nagole would be launched by the Prime Minister on Tuesday by first inaugurating the Pylon at Miyapur Station and flag off the train. He would travel in the metro from Miyapur to Kukatpally, a distance of 6 km, and return along with Governor ESL Narasimhan, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and others.
However, the commercial operations of the metro would begin from Wednesday. Initially, the trains would run from 6 am to 10.30 pm and the timings would be rescheduled to 5.30 am to 11 pm depending on the traffic and demand. To start with, the train would run with three coaches and each coach would carry 330 passengers. Later the number coaches would be increased to six depending upon the traffic volume. Minimum fare has been fixed at Rs 10 for a distance up to two km and the maximum Rs 60 for over 26 km.
As many as 546 security personnel from private agencies would be in the stations between Miyapur and Nagole. They would be under the supervision of three police officers per station in each shift. It is pertinent to note that no other rapid transit metro system opened for public operations on such a long distance of 30 km in the first phase. Also Hyderabad Metro Rail project is the largest in the world under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
The State administration and the HMR have made all arrangements for grand inauguration of the metro rail. Prime Minister Modi would be arriving by a special flight at Begumpet Airport in the afternoon. From the airport, Modi would heli hop to Miyapur to inaugurate the metro operations by first unveiling the Pylon and a plaque. All security arrangements have been put into place in connection with the PM’s arrival and metro rail inauguration. The metro stations and surrounding areas along with Miyapur-Kukatpally route have been sanitized and placed under round the clock vigil. (NSS)