HYDERABAD: Ugadi 2017 might finally see the much-awaited Metro Rail chug into the city. But just in case this deadline is missed, the tracks will most certainly be cleared for the Metro by June 2 – also the Telangana Formation Day – assured NVS Reddy, managing director of Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL), during a conference in the city on Tuesday.The plan is to make operational at least two fragments – about 20 kilometres of the total 72-kilometer-long metro rail network - at the earliest, even as completion of the entire project is likely to get pushed back by another 6 to 12 months, he added. The two stretches up for inauguration are Mettuguda to Nagole (8 km-long stretch along corridor I) and Miyapur to S R Nagar (12 km-long stretch along corridor III).The official date for completion of the entire metro rail project was earlier set as June 2017.While preparations are on to make these two fragments operational soon, official confess that attempts are on to increase the length of these for better connectivity when the Metro finally rolls out. Experts and commuters are highly apprehensive about the success of these short stretches that do not connect many pockets. While they are trying to push corridor I at least up to Prakash Nagar or Begumpet, attempts are on to take corridor III up to Khairatabad.“We will certainly roll out the two stretches that we have mentioned are ready. Our effort now is to see if we can open something more. If we can do it and the railway authorities co-operate with us, we will try to extend it further,” said Reddy.At present, test runs are being conducted along the Miyapur- S R Nagar stretch while test runs have been successfully completed on the Nagole- Mettuguda stretch. The stretches have also secured the essential safety certification to start operations ‘anytime now’.HMRL authorities said that majority of the project work on all three corridors are expected to be complete by the end of 2017. “Some work will spill over into 2018. We are trying to sort out the issue of the ISKCON temple at Secunderabad, hoping for some solution in a week. If that is possible, we will be able to connect the Miyapur stretch to Secunderabad station,” added Reddy, insisting that the project was running as per schedule.“Earlier most of the work was on the ground but now most of the work is happening over the pillars, so it is not visible. Almost 70% of the work is completed. Apart from the 6-km stretch in Old City, where we are facing major hurdles, we are on track at all other places,” the managing director said.Incidentally, this is the second time that HMRL has announced the roll out date - the previous one being Ugadi 2016.BOXTotal length of the project: 72 kmsFoundation work completed on: 60 kmsPillars erected along: 57 kmsAmount of money invested by L&T so far: Rs 11, 500 crore