The Telangana High Court has scheduled a crucial hearing for February 4, 2026, where both petitioners and the executing agency will present audiovisual details regarding the proposed Hyderabad Metro Rail alignment near the historic Charminar. This decision came after the respondent, Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML), requested more time to prepare its presentation.
Court Directs Both Sides to Present Visual Evidence
A division bench comprising Chief Justice Aparesh Kumar Singh and Justice G M Mohiuddin issued the directive. The bench is hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that demands an immediate stop to all construction and related works for Phase-2 of the Hyderabad Metro Rail in Corridor-VI near Charminar. The court had earlier sought audiovisual presentations from both parties, finding that oral arguments were insufficient to move the proceedings forward.
On the previous hearing date, the court had asked HAML to provide a similar presentation. However, during Thursday's proceedings, HAML's counsel, Additional Advocate General Md Imran Khan, informed the court that they could only prepare a PowerPoint presentation with over 150 slides at this stage. He sought additional time to create a seamless audiovisual presentation, assuring the court it was in the final stages of preparation and would be ready by the next date.
PIL Challenges Metro Work in Heritage Zones
The PIL has been filed by the Act Public Welfare Foundation (APWF) and is being heard alongside a connected writ petition filed by advocate M D Omer. The litigation specifically challenges construction activities within Charminar Heritage Precinct No. 10, Falaknuma Precinct No. 12, and other heritage precincts in Hyderabad's old city.
The petitioners argue that the proposed metro route threatens to damage several notified heritage structures. They contend that a comprehensive Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) study must be conducted, and all necessary statutory approvals must be obtained before any work proceeds. Advocate Immaneni Rama Rao, representing APWF, successfully sought the court's permission for the petitioners to also make an audiovisual presentation to demonstrate the potential damage to heritage sites along the route.
Background of Court's Directives
The court has been progressively seeking clearer visual data from HAML. On November 6, 2025, the bench had demanded a "detailed sketch" of the proposed alignment, clearly marking structures of heritage and religious significance. Later, on December 18, 2025, HAML's counsel had promised the court a projected simulation using artificial intelligence, with all heritage structures highlighted in red.
The core purpose of the scheduled presentations on February 4, 2026, is to apprise the court of the project's alleged adverse impact on heritage sites, as claimed by the petitioner, and the counter-perspective from HAML. The court's allowance of the petitioner's Interlocutory Application for a presentation sets the stage for a detailed visual comparison of arguments from both sides.
This case highlights the ongoing tension between urban infrastructure development and the imperative to preserve cultural heritage in one of India's most historic cities. The outcome could set a significant precedent for how large-scale projects navigate sensitive heritage zones in the future.
