Metro station in Hyderabad, India
Raidurg (also known as Synchrony @ Raidurg) is a metro station located on the Blue Line of the Hyderabad Metro India.[1][2] The station was opened on 29 November 2019, two years after first commercial operation of Hyderabad metro started. It is located near Raheja Mindspace Junction.[3] Raidurg metro station is the busiest metro station in Hyderabad with daily footfalls of around 60,000 commuters.[4][5] In February 2020, Synchrony Financial became the sponsor of the Raidurg metro station, under semi-naming policy of Hyderabad metro to generate non-fare revenues.
Raidurg station is terminal point of Blue Line.[6] Blue Line will further be extended by 800 metres for multi-level Raidurg station,[7] from where Phase 2 Airport Express will commence.[8][9] This station was proposed in 2012.[10] Initially, the metro rail was supposed to terminate at Shilparamam but as it was found to be a lake bed,[10] the line was extended by a kilometre to Raidurg where a 15-acre site was earmarked.[11] Raidurg station is opposite Lemon Tree Hotel and TCS Deccan Park. The fourth arm for entry and exit from Raidurg metro station (Arm B on Lemon Tree hotel side) was made operational on 4 April 2023.[12][4][13] Mindspace underpass was constructed as part of Strategic road development plan (SRDP), near Raidurg metro station.[14] In April 2022, 1 km long skywalk was inaugurated that connects Raidurg metro station to strategic locations in and around the Raheja Mindspace campus.[15][16] In September 2022, Ratnadeep Supermarket was opened in Raidurg metro station. In January 2023, Telangana State Road Transport Corporation launched WiFi-enabled air-conditioned mini buses, branded as ‘Cyber Liner’, for IT employees in three corridors between Raidurg metro station and GAR IT Hub at Kokapet, Waverock and Wipro.[17][18] The catchment areas of Raidurg metro station are IT hub beyond Knowledge city, and Financial District, DLF, Gachibowli, Kokapet, Biodiversity, etc.[4]
L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad Limited is planning to build Hyderabad's biggest mall (of about one million square feet) near Raidurg metro station.[19][20] In September 2022, as part of Transit-oriented development, L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail entered into a pact to sublease its prime 15-acre (0.061 km2) land parcel at Raidurg Knowledge City opposite IKEA to Brookfield Group at ₹1,020 crore (US$120 million) for a 50-year lease period.[21][22] In November 2022, L&T opened a new, 100,000 sq. ft. state-of-the art digital experience centre for LTIMindtree in the L&T Metro Building (L&T Next Avenue B1) opposite IKEA.[23][24] In August 2023, as part of its debt restructuring, L&T Hyderabad Metro Rail received approval from Government of Telangana for leasing 15-acre (0.061 km2) of land parcel at Raidurg to Rafferty Developments,[25] a joint venture between Brookfield Corporation and K Raheja Corp, for 50 years for a consideration of over ₹1,200 crore (US$140 million).[26]
The existing corridor three (Blue line) from Raidurg Station to the new Airport Metro Raidurg Station will be extended by about 900 meters,[27] thus it would be an integrated four-level station, somewhat similar to JBS Station of metro corridor-2 (Green line) and Ameerpet interchange station. The extended blue line terminal station and the Airport Metro station is planned as a combined interchange station one over the other.[28] The combined interchange station design is due to space constraints in front of L&T and Aurobindo buildings after IKEA junction. The first two levels will accommodate Airport Metro station and the top two levels will accommodate the extended blue line (Corridor 3) terminal station.
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Skywalk from Raidurg metro station to Raheja Mindspace campus
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Mindspace underpass near Raidurg metro station
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Fourth arm for entry and exit from Raidurg metro station
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Mindspace skywalk from Raidurg metro station
In popular culture
See also
References
