While survey work to fine-tune the metro route and station sites was underway, the deadline for General Consultant (GC) bids to be submitted was January 20. These skilled engineering experts would be in place by early next month.

According to him, the survey work was being carried out utilizing both the Electronic Total Station with built-in programs for greater accuracy and the capture of exact coordinates and the satellite-based Differential Global Positioning System (DGPS). The survey would be finished by the end of the month and has already covered 21 kilometres up to Fort Grand underpass near Shamshabad town. The alignment would then begin to be marked with pegs.

While the DPR used a standard railway engineering method to determine the station locations, an innovative approach was now being used by taking into account the significant commercial and residential developments that have recently occurred in the Nanakramguda, Financial District, Kokapet, Narsingi, Rajendranagar, and Shamshabad areas, as well as HMDA's master plan for development of this area of the city and its outskirts.

This was in line with the goal of Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao, who wanted to spread out the growth of the city to its periphery and offer inexpensive homes within a commute distance of less than 30 minutes to workplaces.