Hyderabad Old City Corridor: Telangana HC allows petitioner’s visual presentation on metro alignment

The Telangana High Court has permitted a petitioner to present visuals in a case challenging the proposed Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II, Corridor-VI alignment through heritage precincts in the Old City.

By Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice GM Mohiuddin, of the Telangana High Court, on Thursday allowed an interlocutory application permitting the petitioner to make a visual presentation in a case concerning the proposed Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II, Corridor-VI alignment through heritage precincts in the Old City.

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Recording the proceedings, the Bench noted that on earlier dates it had observed that Hyderabad Airport Metro Rail Limited could demonstrate a visual presentation explaining the proposed metro route.

However, the Court observed that the authorities were still not ready with the presentation. In contrast, the petitioner expressed readiness to place before the Court a visual presentation highlighting the alleged statutory and heritage-related violations arising from the proposed alignment.

In view of the above, the Bench allowed the interlocutory application, enabling the petitioner to make the visual presentation at the next hearing.

It may be recalled that the writ petition raises serious objections to the alignment of Metro Rail Phase-II, Corridor-VI, through Charminar Heritage Precinct No. 10, Falaknuma Precinct No. 12, and other notified heritage areas.

The petitioner has sought a halt on all construction activities in the said precincts until a comprehensive Heritage Impact Assessment is conducted by an independent expert committee and mandatory statutory approvals are obtained under the Telangana Heritage Act, 2017, and the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

The petitioner has further urged the Court to direct the authorities to explore and present alternative metro alignments that do not adversely affect heritage structures and precincts, including Purani Haveli, Azakhana-e-Zehra, Jama Masjid Darulshifa, and Moghalpura Tomb.