The Managing Director (MD) of HAML and HMR recently shared updates regarding changes to the Hyderabad Metro Phase II expansion plan. Instead of the previously proposed 116.4 km expansion, the revised plan now includes a 76.4 km extension with 54 new stations across five corridors in the initial phase.

The MD explained that the Detailed Project Report (DPR), Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP), and other transit analysis reports have already been submitted to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) for financial and technical evaluation.

The second phase of the metro will introduce Hyderabad’s first double-decker flyover, along with a 1.6 km-long metro viaduct. Additionally, Double U Girders (precast, pre-tensioned U-shaped structural components) will replace the box girders used in Phase I, which had caused delays in construction.

Initially, the project will cover five corridors. However, a 40 km section connecting Shamshabad Airport to the Skill University in the Fourth City has been put on hold. The authority decided to prioritize these five corridors due to the growing demand for urban mobility and the technical feasibility of the routes. Furthermore, development in the Fourth City remains in its conceptual stage.

The MD of HAML explained that the earlier Public-Private Partnership (PPP) financing model involved loans at a 10 per cent interest rate, resulting in an annual interest burden of Rs 13 billion. To address this, the project shifted to a Joint Venture (JV) model, which offers funding at a 2 per cent interest rate with a 40-year repayment period. This change has significantly reduced the project’s financial strain.