There are several kilometres of drinking water and sewerage pipelines stretched under the main roads in hyderabad, these lines have to shifted to create a way for the concrete elevated structures which are built for Hyderabad Metro Rail project without which posses a threat for this project.

These water and sewer lines were laid by the side of roads decades ago. Since then, the roads have been widened and road dividers realigned; these pipelines now run under the middle of the road, which is where the concrete pillars supporting the metro rail will be constructed.

When Larsen and Toubro (L&T) conducted soil testing, it found the underground water and sewer lines at several places along the proposed metro rail corridors. Later, the Water Board carried out a comprehensive survey and pinpointed the lines that need to be shifted.

The estimated cost of shifting the pipelines is nearly Rs 40 crore. The HMR authorities have agreed to fund the shifting and have also started releasing the money based on estimates being submitted by the Water Board.

“The cost is so high because shifting of pipes alone will not serve the purpose. The pipes are old and made of cast iron and duct iron. We have to replace them with mild steel pipes. The shifting will be done when HMR digs up the road to lay the foundations of the piers,” said an official.

The Water Board director M. Satyanarayana quoted that their team is working to find out various ways of shifting these water pipelines so that it wont effect the drinking water supply.