L&T, the construction major and concessionaire for the ₹14,132-crore Hyderabad Metro Rail project, has been granted extension of time till November 2018, to complete the elevated rail project.

With the deadline to compete the project ending on July 4, the country’s largest PPP mode project, has secured extension of construction deadline by about 17 months.

The move to extend deadline comes after detailed technical presentations by the Concessionaire L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited, Independent Engineer Louis Berger, and Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) and several rounds of discussions and hard negotiations between the senior officials of the Telangana government and the Concessionaire.

The extension enables 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 delay in construction of the project was due to multiple court cases in acquisition of some critical properties. The government has, therefore, agreed for this time extension of 17 months, NVS Reddy, MD, HMRL, said.

Shekhar Prasad Singh, State Chief Secretary, who reviewed the progress of the metro project, observed that even though a few remaining properties to be acquired are not coming in the way of the project, he instructed the Collectors of both Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, and Commissioner, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, to expedite acquisition of the remaining properties to facilitate widening of roads in some sections.

The HMRL has been directed to gear up 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.

Cost and legal rights



While the section in the Old City is still uncertain due to objections raised on its alignment, the overall project cost is likely to face overrun due to delay in the overall project implementation beyond the programmed schedule, and 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.