Hyderabad Metro: HMRL Initiates Soil Testing For MGBS-Falaknuma Metro Rail Project In Old City

The Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) is taking steps to conduct a geo-technical investigation of the soil in order to lay the foundation of the piers for the 5.5-km Metro Rail project between MGBS and Falaknuma.

This project, part of the Corridor-II (Green Line) in the Old City, has long been pending and is now being implemented by the state government.

In response to Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's directive, the HMRL has hired private agencies to carry out geotechnical investigations through borehole drilling at 54 locations.

This three-month exercise will provide critical insights into the subsoil profile, characteristics, and strength, as well as allow for the collection of soil samples for further analysis.

The estimated cost of the geotechnical investigation is around Rs 25 lakh, and it is seen as a significant step towards the implementation of the Old City metro project, reports The New Indian Express.

The 5.5 km metro alignment in the old city stretches from MGBS to Falaknuma, passing through Darulshifa junction, Purani Haveli, Ettebar Chowk, Alijakotla, Mir Momin Daira, Haribowli, Shalibanda, Shamsheergunj, and Aliabad.

The MGBS to Falaknuma corridor is of strategic importance, and the Metro stations along this route will improve accessibility to sites such as the Salar Jung Museum and Charminar.

According to HMRL, there are a total of 103 religious and other sensitive structures, including 21 mosques, 12 temples, 12 ashoorkhanas, 33 dargahs, seven graveyards, and six chillas along this stretch.

However, through engineering solutions such as adjusting curvature, viaduct design and heights, and suitable alteration of metro pillar locations, all of the religious and sensitive structures, except for four, have been preserved.

In order to safeguard the religious and sensitive structures, the widening of roads will be limited to 80 feet in this corridor.

Despite challenges in property acquisition, the geotechnical investigation is expected to pave the way for further progress and collaboration between the HMRL and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation for land acquisition.

The Old City extension of metro connectivity was allocated Rs 500 crore by the state government in the 2022-23 budget.