Old City Metro Gets Green Light: HC Allows Land Acquisition to Resume
- pradeep
- 2 days ago
- 2 min read
The Telangana High Court has allowed Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML) to resume land acquisition for the Hyderabad Metro Phase-II corridor through the Old City, vacating a stay that had halted the process since January 2025.
The corridor will run from MGBS to Chandrayangutta, passing through Hyderabad’s Old City. The court said the acquisition can proceed in accordance with law, while questions about the legality and procedure of the process will be examined at the final hearing.
Why Had Residents Approached the Court?
Eight petitioners, largely shop and property owners, had challenged the acquisition process.
They alleged that significantly more land was being acquired from one side of the road rather than being divided equally between both sides as the road is widened from 60 feet to 100 feet.
They also challenged the compensation offered, claiming rates of around ₹26,000–₹81,000 per square yard were substantially below what they said were prevailing market values of ₹3–4 lakh per square yard.
HAML Defends the Metro Alignment
HAML argued that the alignment follows the officially approved city master plan and was finalised after drone and satellite surveys.
The agency said an equal acquisition from both sides would not be technically feasible because of uneven construction along the road and could result in a zig-zag alignment.
HAML also told the court that more than 300 of the 357 affected property owners had already accepted the awards and handed over possession.
Court Says Public Interest Matters
The High Court observed that metro and highway alignments involve technical and engineering considerations that courts generally cannot second-guess.
It also noted the broader public interest in preventing delays to a major urban transport project and therefore vacated the earlier stay.
What Happens Next?
The court's latest order does not finally decide the residents' objections.
The questions surrounding the legality and procedural compliance of the acquisition will be considered at the final hearing, while the acquisition process can continue in the meantime.
The development removes a major legal hurdle for the Old City stretch, which has also faced separate concerns over the metro's alignment through heritage-sensitive areas.
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