₹20 crore distributed to 41 property owners for old city metro stretch

Residents in Old City Hyderabad receive enhanced compensation for land acquisition to build metro rail, ensuring development and progress.

“We have lived in the area for decades. It is with a heavy heart we are giving up our land so that metro rail will come to the Old City. We were not sure the government has the money to take it up even after markings were made. Some are losing 20 ft, some 200 ft and some their entire land. But, we have to sacrifice for development sake. We are happy to get three times enhanced compensation. We are now confident about the project being built,” said Mohd. Karar Hussain.

He was one of the 41 owners of the 34 affected properties to have come to the Hyderabad Collectorate to collect compensation for giving up his land for constructing the 7.5 km MGBS-Chandrayanagutta metro rail stretch in the Old City on Monday (January 06). About ₹20 crore was distributed with cheque amounts ranging from a few lakhs to ₹1.54 crore handed over to BKM Educational Institution.

Mr. Hussain also sought few more days for relocation because “we have to search for alternative accommodation in a new area”. “My mutton shop is totally gone for the project but happy that metro rail is coming to the Old City,” said Ghouse Khan, another owner. The cheques were handed over by Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi, District Collector Anudeeep Durisetti and Hyderabad Airport Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy.

“Treat us (Old City residents) with love and respect, win our hearts and we will be ready to give up our lives,” remarked Mr. Owaisi and thanked the owners for their willingness to hand over their ancestral lands. He also appreciated Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy for readily accepting to hike the compensation amount to ₹81,000 per sq.ft and ₹6 lakh more to those losing entire land for the road widening.

“We were never against the metro rail but five chief ministers from N. Chandrababu Naidu till K. Chandrasekhar Rao did not release funds. Mr. Revanth Reddy took it up as soon as the elections were completed. We hope it will be built within a few years and also the airport line,” said the MP. He also sought skywalks near the proposed Salar Jung and Charminar metro stations to the monuments and appealed for priority being given to the affected land losers to set up businesses at the upcoming metro stations.

“We are ready to fulfil the CM’s resolve to complete the Old City Metro in four years at an estimated cost of ₹2,741 crore. Mr. Reddy was clear about giving appropriate compensation and owners could get upto ₹1 lakh per sq.ft including structural compensation,” said Mr. NVS Reddy.

While it could take two-three months to get the Centre’s permission for the 76.4 km metro rail phase two, HAML will begin road widening and shifting of utilities in the meantime. The second phase public amenities like footpaths etc., will be better than the existing first phase and the proposed Chandrayanagutta junction station, which will provide the airport link, will be as grand as the Ameerpet interchange station, he promised.