Hyderabad Metro Rail - a Renaissance of Urban Rail

This paper presents the background and approach that Hyderabad Metro Rail Ltd as the Owner of the proposed Hyderabad Metro is taking to achieve its objective to 'create an efficient, safe, reliable, affordable and world-class public transportation system in Hyderabad which will facilitate the city's transformation as a competitive global city with a high quality of life....'. The Metro Rail project effectively rejuvenates the city by implementing a world-class metro rail system to supplement Hyderabad's existing suburban rail system. Hyderabad is located in south central India and is known as the gateway of south India and is the Andhra Pradesh (AP) state capital. The current public transport system that is based around buses, auto-rickshaws and suburban rail is inadequate and needs enhancing. Utilising a rail solution, it was decided a mass rapid transit system is the best solution and this paper sets out the reasons why a metro rail system was selected and how this choice is being implemented through a Public Private Partnership. The financing options are presented and the detail of the PPP selected, which includes Viability Gap Funding, is also addressed. The role of the Independent Engineer has been highlighted and its importance in the successful delivery of the metro project has been mentioned. Finally an overview of the railway technical performance requirements to which the Concessionaire is required to comply is presented in some detail. Overall, many aspects of the value for money model developed by HMR can be guidelines for Metro Rail developments across Australasia.