Metro rail becomes the second largest rail system, if this happens

With the stage set for inauguration of the Jubilee Bus Station-Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station corridor of the Metro Rail on February 7 by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, Municipal Administration Minister K.T. Rama Rao on Wednesday instructed officials to ensure that the event passes off smoothly.

Mr Rama Rao chaired a meeting at Pragati Bhavan attended by senior Metro Rail officials, Mayor Bonthu Rammohan, Minister T. Srinivas Yadav along with senior officials from different departments including the police, to review the preparations for the inauguration.

He said the event was likely to attended by elected representatives from the areas that the Metro Rail corridor covers as well as a large number of people. All protocol requirements should be scrupulously followed for the event and steps should be taken to minimise any inconvenience to travelling public in the city because of the event.

Mr Rama Rao said the Hyderabad Metro Rail project has emerged as the world's largest Public Private Partnership among metro rail systems. The project has received several awards, notched up many firsts and information on these aspects should be publicised so people can appreciate the project. "Once this third corridor is inaugurated and begins functioning, the city's Metro Rail will become the second largest metro rail system in the country. Officials should be prepared to share information on facilities provided by the service, at stations, the commuter numbers and the like," Mr Rama Rao added.

Meanwhile, minister T. Srinivas Yadav, accompanied by Rammohan, Deputy Speaker Padma Rao Minister Ch Malla Reddy, Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy and GHMC Commissioner Lokesh Kumar, inspected the JBS Metro Rail station to inspect the preparations for the inauguration of the third corridor. Mr Yadav later told reporters that at present, taking the road from JBS to MGBS takes about an hour but once the Metro Rail services begin, people can ride the train to complete this journey in just 15 minutes.

He said that the of the three corridors of the Metro Rail so far, the two in service between Nagole and Rayadurg, and Miyapur and LB Nagar covered a total distance of 58 kilometres. He also said that increased public transport, that is efficient, will also contribute to reducing air pollution from automobiles with people using the public transport more.