Hyderabad metro expands green line into the old city

The 7.5-kilometre Old City extension of the Hyderabad Metro is moving forward, with the goal of improving connectivity while preserving heritage along the way.

The long-awaited Hyderabad Metro expansion into the Old City has finally gathered momentum, with construction progressing swiftly along the 7.5-kilometre corridor from Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) to Chandrayangutta. This stretch is part of the Green Line extension under Phase II of the city’s metro rail project and aims to significantly improve public transportation in the densely populated southern part of Hyderabad.

Work is currently underway in key locations such as Mir Alam Mandi and Moghalpura, where demolition activities have begun following property acquisitions. Approximately 1,100 properties are being acquired for the project, with compensation fixed at ₹65,000 per square yard. The total compensation payout is estimated to be around ₹1,000 crore, marking one of the most significant financial undertakings in the city’s metro development efforts.

Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML), which is overseeing the project, has assured that heritage and religious structures along the route will not be affected. A total of 103 such structures lie along the alignment, and officials are employing advanced engineering solutions to protect them during the construction process. This commitment to preserving the historical character of the Old City has helped address concerns raised by local communities and heritage conservationists.

The 7.5-km extension is expected to be completed within four years and will serve as a vital link for thousands of daily commuters. Once operational, it will not only reduce traffic congestion but also connect the Old City more efficiently to other parts of Hyderabad via the metro network.

The Metro extension is being viewed as a major step toward inclusive urban development, offering better connectivity, reduced travel time, and an overall improvement in the quality of urban mobility for residents of the Old City.