Old City pitches for Metro Rail

Vociferous demands have been raised for a Metro Rail line in the Old City as the service between Miyapur and Nagole - a 30 km stretch - is inaugurated on Tuesday.

Organisations cutting across religious and political affiliations have come together and formed the Metro Rail Joint Action Committee. A mass campaign to pressurise the government to start Metro Rail service in the Old City will begin soon.

Metro Rail was to commence operations on a route through the Old City in 2012, but was delayed because representations were made to change the alignment. About 1,000 properties would be affected along the proposed route between the MGBS and Falaknuma. The alternative route suggested was to pass alongside the River Musi through the Petlaburj, Bahadurpura, Kalapather and Jahanuma.

On Friday, several organisations under the banner of Old City Metro Rail Joint Action Committee held a meeting and demanded that the government review the facility to areas of the Old City.

Manik Prabhu, convenor of the Committee said that the government and public representatives are not serious about bringing the Metro Rail to the Old City.

“Work across the city, except the Old City, has already started and will be completed soon. The Old City cannot be left out of the project without valid reasons. The residents here have been demanding this for long and now we will come out onto the streets,” he warned.

Another meeting was held at Etebar Chowk where leaders of various political parties and social organisations participated. Osman Al Hajri, convenor of the programme, said that they will be organising a rally in the Old City on Monday.

“A massive postcard campaign and email campaign will also be started from Monday. Signature campaigns will be held from Saturday onwards across the older parts of the city to mobilise public support,” said S.Q. Masood, a social activist from the Old City. He added that awareness campaigns will also be held about the benefits.