JOIN USPrime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the first phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail here on Tuesday.
A long-cherished dream of Hyderabadis, the metro rail is billed as India's largest metro project taken up under the Public Private Partnership (PPP) mode.
It covers a stretch of 72-km spread over three high-density corridors with 66 stations. The first phase covers a 30-km stretch between Miyapur and Nagole stations with 24 stations.
Modi formally launched the metro service by unveiling a pylon at Miyapur station. The prime minister was shown a documentary on the key features of the elevated metro, billed as the largest urban development project in the country.
Accompanied by the Governor of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana ESL Narasimhan, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, state Ministers and other officials, he travelled on the metro from Miyapur to Kukatpally and back.
With the first phase covering a distance of 30-km, it is a record inaugural stretch for any city. It connects several busy clusters and city landmarks, including the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, Osmania University, Secunderabad Railway Station and major commercial hubs like Begumpet and Ameerpet.
The other two corridors-Jubilee Bus Station-Falaknuma (14.78 km) and Nagole-Shilparamam (27.51 km) are expected to be completed by the end of next year.