The Hyderabad Metro Phase-II project through the Old City has received a major legal boost after the Supreme Court dismissed a petition seeking a halt to the proposed works until an independent expert committee examined their possible impact on heritage structures.
The petition was filed by the Act Public Welfare Foundation, which raised concerns over the alignment of Corridor-VI between MGBS and Chandrayangutta and its proximity to important heritage and religious structures.
Supreme Court Rejects Plea Seeking Stay
- A three judge Supreme Court bench dismissed the plea on June 2, 2026.
- The petitioner had sought a stay on Metro Phase-II works until an independent expert committee could assess the possible impact of the alignment on heritage structures.
- The Supreme Court declined to stop the project and indicated that concerns relating to heritage structures could be pursued before the Telangana High Court.
Heritage Structures at Centre of Dispute
- The petition raised concerns about the possible impact of the Metro alignment on heritage sites in the Old City, including the Charminar and Falaknuma Palace.
- The Telangana High Court had earlier sought detailed information from Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited regarding the proposed alignment, including the distance between the Metro route and heritage and religious structures.
- Metro authorities have maintained that the proposed alignment does not affect notified heritage structures and that necessary precautions are being taken.
Land Acquisition Nears Completion
- The legal challenge comes as land acquisition for the Old City Metro corridor has moved close to completion.
- The 7.5 km MGBS-Chandrayangutta corridor requires acquisition of 888 properties. Authorities have reportedly acquired around 825 properties, or approximately 93% of the total requirement.
- A small number of properties remain unresolved, including some heritage properties, properties involved in legal disputes and certain Waqf linked properties.
Proposed Old City Metro Route
The proposed Corridor-VI will connect MGBS with Chandrayangutta over approximately 7.5 km.
The planned stations include:
➤ Salarjung Museum
➤ Charminar
➤ Shah-Ali-Banda
➤ Shamsheergunj
➤ Aliabad
➤ Falaknuma
The project is estimated to cost around ₹2,886 crore and is expected to bring several major parts of the Old City into Hyderabad’s Metro network.
Construction Preparations Continue
- With most of the land acquisition completed and the Supreme Court rejecting the plea seeking to halt the project, Metro authorities can continue preparations for the corridor.
- Authorities are also working on arrangements for construction, testing and commissioning of the Metro line.
Residents Concerns Remain
- Although the Supreme Court decision removes a major hurdle to stopping the project, concerns regarding property acquisition, compensation and protection of heritage structures remain.
- Residents and heritage advocates have also raised questions about the alignment and the location of stations, particularly around important historic areas.
What Happens Next?
- The Supreme Court’s decision means there is no stay on the Phase-II works from the petition before it.
- The Telangana government and Metro authorities can continue the project, while heritage related concerns may continue to be considered before the Telangana High Court.
- For Old City residents, the Metro project could significantly improve public transport connectivity. At the same time, proper compensation for affected property owners and protection of Hyderabad’s historic heritage will remain key issues as construction moves forward.
