Large scale demolitions are going on in metro rail corridors in different parts of the city to speed up metro rail project works, informed HMR MD N.V.S. Reddy to the Telangana Government constituted special task force meeting presided over by Chief Secretary Rajiv Sharma on Tuesday.

Coordinated efforts by HMR, GHMC and Collectorates of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, had enabled several long pending critical properties, which have become major traffic bottlenecks, to be dismantled. Properties currently undergoing demolition include:

Eight railway properties measuring about two acres near Secunderabad railway station for which about Rs.45 crore was paid, six in Yousufguda (1,550 sq. yards - Rs. 23.67 crore); Nandini café/Gowtham Reddy property at Jubilee Hills Checkpost (598 sq yards - Rs.5.30 crore); five properties opposite Kotla Vijayabhaskar Reddy stadium at Yousufguda (400 sq yards - Rs. 2 crore); front portion of Ashok Yadav building at Madhapur (169 sq yards); Bombay Bar & Restaurant, Nampally (88 square yards); properties from Secunderabad Clock Tower to the Secunderabad Station road (400 sq yards - Rs. 5 crore) etc. Properties near J. Hills checkpost were taken over to facilitate the sharp curve at the junction and the work was held up for the last four years for various reasons, including litigation.

Demolition of Jabbar building, Chintawar building and SBH building on Begumpet road are nearing completion, he said.

The Chief Secretary reviewed status of acquisition of 204 properties i.e., 157 private and 47 Government Vested Municipal properties (GVM) and he was told that 39 properties were being dismantled since the last meeting.

GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar said 13 GVM properties would be dismantled soon and assured acquisition of all properties by May.