Old City metro rail: drone survey begins, saving sensitive structures crucial

HYDERABAD: Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) managing director NVS Reddy has said that protection of about 103 religious and other sensitive structures including 21 masjids, 12 temples, 12 ashoor khanas, 33 dargas, seven grave yards and six chillas is a major challenge for metro construction in old city.

The old city metro would be connected from Imlibun to Falaknuma, covering 5.5 km under corridor-II. The Telangana State Government had announced Rs 500 crore for the project. Following the suggestions given by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) to speed up the Metro Rail preparatory works in the old city, the HMRL commenced a survey of the Metro Rail alignment, affected properties and other sensitive structures here on Sunday.

"Apart from a conventional survey, a drone survey is commenced to take exact measurements of the affected properties which are required for road widening in the narrow stretch between Darul-shifa junction and Shalibanda junction for construction of metro stations,” NVS Reddy said. A drone survey would be helpful in evolving appropriate engineering solutions to save religious and other sensitive structures. "Metro alignment, pillar locations etc., are being planned in such a way that there is no adverse effect on these religious and other sensitive structures," he said.

NVS Reddy also said that the drone survey enabled quick collection of real time data, high resolution imaginary, 3D modelling, seamless integration of GIS (Geographic Information System) data and CAD software, data analysis and visualisation. Simultaneously, tenders were also being finalised for starting a soil investigation in the coming few days, he said.

"The soil investigation will start from Falaknuma end, where Falaknuma metro station will be located. Apart from MGBS which is already an existing station, the 5.5 km metro stretch in the old city will have four other stations- Salarjung Museum, Charminar (metro stations will be about 500 metres away from these two monuments), Shalibanda and Falaknuma", NVS Reddy said.