Metros full-steam rollout from November

HYDERABAD: The Rs 12,132 crore Hyderabad Metro Rail project is said to be all-in-one answer to Hyderabad’s many problems: lack of public transport, traffic congestion and noise and pollution levels. The project is budgeted to cost Rs 12,132 crore.It is being billed as the world's largest project to be taken up in the public private partnership (PPP) mode on a design, build, finance operate and transfer (DBFOT) basis. But then that’s the kind of thing they said about Enron too.HMR commuter wagons project will run along three high-density traffic corridors, spanning 71 km.1.Miyapur-LB Nagar  (28.87 km, 27 stations)2. Jubilee Bus Station-Falaknuma (14.78 km 16 stations)3. Nagole-Shilparamam (27.51 km, 23 stations)Larsen & Toubro and the state government have almost completed the preparatory work on the project. The government has set up a special task force headed by the chief secretary to monitor the project.HMRL, the nodal agency supervising the project, has appointed Louis Berger as an independent engineer.HMRL has completed the topographic survey and soil investigation along the three corridors. Some 300 professionals are currently working on the project. A leading MRTS consultancy, AECOM, has been engaged by L&T.In the next 3-4 weeks, work will start on the Nagole-Mettuguda and Miyapur-Ameerpet sections where there are no land acquisition issues.Work on the metro will be in full swing in all three corridors from November. The project has to be completed in five years. The concession period will last for 35 years including the five years for construction, extendable by another 25 years.HMR official said that L&T has started work on the Nagole depot having an area of 99 acres, 25 acres land in Falaknuma has been handed over while the problem is with the 104 acres for the Miyapur. The issue is with the court as the multiple persons are claiming ownership. But HMR has deposited the amount in the court. About 57 acres located in different areas for parking and circulation areas has also been handed to the concessionaire.