Halt Old City Metro Rail project, seeks PIL in Telangana High Court

Petitioner urges to explore alternative alignments that would not adversely affect heritage sites, including Purani Haveli, Azakhana-e-Zehra, Jama Masjid, Darulshifa, and Moghalpura Tomb

Hyderabad: The division Bench of the Telangana High Court, comprising acting Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Renuka Yara, on Thursday granted three weeks to the respondents to file a counter in response to a PIL challenging the Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II, Corridor-VI alignment through Charminar and Falaknuma heritage precincts.

The Bench directed that any rejoinder, if required, be filed within two weeks thereafter. The matter was listed for further hearing on April 3, 2025. The PIL was filed by Act Public Welfare Foundation (APWF), represented by its president Mohammed Rahim Khan, seeking the court’s intervention to halt all construction activities related to the Metro Rail Phase-II alignment within Charminar Heritage Precinct No 10, Falaknuma Precinct No 12, and other affected heritage sites.

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The petitioner contended that no construction should be taken up until a comprehensive Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) is conducted by an independent expert committee and necessary statutory approvals are obtained as per the Telangana Heritage Act, 2017, and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains (AMASR) Act, 1958.

The petitioner further urged to explore alternative alignments that would not adversely affect heritage sites, including Purani Haveli, Azakhana-e-Zehra, Jama Masjid, Darulshifa, and Moghalpura Tomb. The Counsel on behalf of the petitioner argued that the failure to conduct an HIA and the lack of adherence to statutory heritage protection mechanisms violated constitutional rights.

Additionally, the petitioner sought reinstatement of Regulation 13 of the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) Zoning Regulations, 1981, or the introduction of equivalent provisions to ensure the protection of heritage structures in Hyderabad.

The PIL also requested the formation of an independent committee comprising heritage conservation experts, urban planners, environmental specialists, and community representatives to oversee heritage conservation measures and ensure accountability in the Metro Rail Phase-II project.

After hearing the arguments, the court granted time for the respondents to file their counter and scheduled the next hearing for April 3, 2025.