This second-phase project to be unique in several ways

The proposed Hyderabad Airport Metro Rail to link Raidurg to the International Airport at Shamshabad over 30.7 km is going to be a high-speed one with trains to clock speeds of up to 100 kmph so that it can reach the destination in 20 minutes flat, changing the entire gamut of commuting in the twin cities.

This is the second phase of the metro rail project which will, in a sense, be unique in several ways in comparison to the first phase of the 72-km metro rail under construction across the three corridors of the capital.

The first phase of Hyderabad Metro Rail — connecting Miyapur to L.B. Nagar (29 km), Corridor One, Jubilee Bus Station (JBS) to Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (9 km), Corridor Two, and Nagole to Hi-Tec City/Raidurg (28 km), Corridor Three, — is totally elevated with a station for every kilometre.

Though capable of moving up to 80 kmph, metro trains are usually run up to 35 kmph. Airport metro or ‘Airport Express’, however, is going to be a super quick suburban train with limited halts between Raidurg, the interchange station, and the airport. “Technology for airport metro is different from the metro run in the heart of the city but less complicated with trains capable of clocking speed of 135 kmph. Official permission will be for 120 kmph though trains will be run at 100 kmph, providing fast commuting. It will provide reverse transport to Hi-Tec city and help in Transit Oriented Development (TOD),” says HMR Managing Director N. V. S. Reddy.

Mr. Reddy, who will be once again helming the project, which the government is treating as top priority, explains that airport metro will be travelling on ground for 70% of the entire route, mostly beside the Outer Ring Road (ORR), with a few sections totally elevated and at some sections a “mix of both”.

Proposed stations at Gachibowli, Narsingi, APPA junction, Himayatsagar and Shamshabad are most likely to remain on ground but HMR and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which prepared the initial detailed project plan, are considering several alignment alternatives as there are about 26 road crossings across the route.

The Government and HMR are considering various options for funding the project estimated to cost ₹4,650 crore. For now, it is confirmed that Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), GMR Group and government will pitch in with ₹400 crore each and the Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation too is expected to invest.