Old City jittery over metro alignment delay

Old City jittery over metro alignment delay
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The managements of the different Ashoorkhanas and temples, bread makers, Irani hotel owners, petty businessmen and men on the street are all worried on the delay regarding changes in the metro alignment in Old City. Kauser, a spray painter at Darulshifa, says, “We are not sure what will happen to us if the government retracts and wants the metro to go as per the original plan.

With the Telangana government still not decided on the alignment changes, the residents in the Old City are on tenterhooks


The managements of the different Ashoorkhanas and temples, bread makers, Irani hotel owners, petty businessmen and men on the street are all worried on the delay regarding changes in the metro alignment in Old City. Kauser, a spray painter at Darulshifa, says, “We are not sure what will happen to us if the government retracts and wants the metro to go as per the original plan. There are hundreds of petty businessmen who would just go out of business.”


According to a survey by the MIM Party, 1,025 private properties would get affected. MLC Syed Altaf Razvi says, “Between Aza Khana Zehra and Daira-e-Mir-Momin there are several religious structures of different communities dating back to over hundred years and more.”


Not just traders but managements of ten Ashoorkhanas are in a state of suspension. Mirza, a resident of Purani Haveli, says, “During the Bibi-Ka-Alam that is taken out every year goes through this route, the whole stretch is steeped in history and every brick has a story to tell.” Syed Hamid Hussain Jaffery, Shia Youth Conference president, adds, “The government needs to take a call as soon as possible and also change the alignment so that this stretch of Hyderabad is saved forever.”


The residents of Old City feel that if the alignment is changed and can be diverted through Puranapul, Muslimjungpul, Zoo Park, Kalapathar, and Misrigunj and further on, it would not only save heritage and other structures, but also Hyderabad Metro Rail and L&T would not encounter any demolitions.


Altaf Razvi adds, “The government would have to pay double the market value as compensation to owners as per the new land acquisition policy. If it changes the alignment the same amount that it is ready to pay as compensation can be used for construction.” It is estimated that the change in alignment would increase the construction by 3km and the cost escalation would be Rs 200 per km.


By:T P Venu

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