Medchal Metro Route Poses Engineering Challenge

Hyderabad: A steep road curve along the road between Paradise and Bowenpally, near the Begumpet airport boundary, has emerged as a challenge for the Hyderabad Airport Metro Ltd (HAML), which is drafting the route for the Metro Rail to Medchal.

The HMDA, which proposes to build its elevated corridor to Medchal on the same route, is overcoming the challenge by going underground beneath the airport runway via a 600-metre tunnel.

However, designing a Metro line that goes underground and rises again to a double-elevated structure presents significant engineering difficulties.

HAML managing director N.V.S. Reddy, along with senior engineers and technical consultants, inspected the proposed route on Sunday to find solutions.

On the table is Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s suggestion to initially combine the Paradise-Medchal and JBS-Shamirpet Metro Rail corridors to a certain distance to simplify the design, splitting them at a later stage.

The HAML team explored various routes in the Cantonment area, including the JBS-Secunderabad Club, Mudfort, Tivoli junction, and Bowenpally checkpost roads. They assessed alternatives to avoid sharp curves, reduce private land acquisition, and maximise residential coverage.

To be sure, the Hyderabad Metro in its Phase 1 has crossed several construction challenges including sharp turns, and infrastructure projects like rail lines and flyovers.

A HAML official, speaking with Deccan Chronicle, said “Metro Rail trains are going at an average speed of 35 kmph now, and we are looking towards increasing the speed given the long distances. The sharp curves and turns are a weighty problem for us because trains have to slow down.”

“We are trying to avoid all problems and challenges we faced during Phase I of the Metro Rail project”, the official added.

Engineers suggested merging the corridors at JBS, bypassing the requirement for a tunnel under the airport entirely. This approach could facilitate a 60-km seamless corridor connecting Medchal via widened service roads near Bowenpally, while the Shamirpet corridor could run along the expanded Karimnagar Highway.

Plans are also underway to develop JBS into a major Metro Rail hub, with 30 acres of state and defence land earmarked for passenger amenities, including parking facilities. The authorities emphasised that minimising engineering complexities and optimising station locations are crucial for the successful execution of the project.