GMR to build Hyderabad airport rail link

The Andhra Pradesh government has cleared the proposal for a modern rail system connecting the existing Begumpet airport in the heart of the city’s central business district to the proposed Hyderabad International Airport (HIAL) at Shamshabad. Mooted by the GMR group, which is implementing the international airport project, the 25 km dedicated Airport Express line is modelled on Kuala Lumpur Express that connects the city to the international airport, a consultant involved with the project said. Estimated to cost upwards of Rs 1,500 crore, inclusive of the rolling stock and other infrastructure, the project is designed to handle 10,000 airport passengers a day apart from regular fare. The partly elevated high speed railway line will cut down the commuting time from the current 90 minute by road to just 20 odd minutes to the new airport. State-owned Indian Railways and Airports Authority of India are expected to be involved in the project, in all likelihood in partnership with the GMR group under the PPP model.

Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy had reviewed the proposal forwarded to his office by the roads and building department on Sunday. A consortium of consultants led by Balaji Railroad Systems Ltd, and Smec of Australia are expected to prepare the detailed project report for the proposal. If everything goes well, it should be completed in two and half years, an official involved with it said. In the interim, the consultants have made a proposal to extend the existing multi-modal transport system, in the city to the proposed international airport. The state government will not have to resort to acquisition of new land for the project considering a part of it is routed along existing railway lines, while the remaining, measuring about 14 km, goes along the outer ring road project currently under implementation. Apart from cutting short the commuting time for passengers, the line will improve the financial viability for the city-side facilities like shopping malls and entertainment area being planned by HIAL at the new international airport.

The airport will be operational by March 2008. Apart from catering to the airport passengers, who will have the facility of checking in with the respective airlines at their existing check-in counters at Begumpet airport, the proposed railway line will be open to non-flying passengers who want to go to the new airport. The GMR group is understood to be in negotiations for a similar airport line with the Delhi Metro authorities for linking the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL) with the city. Meanwhile, DIAL has awarded the Rs 5,400-crore contract for design and construction of terminal, runway and associated works at the Delhi airport to L&T. The master plan envisages construction of new terminal building and runway. This will help DIAL to cut short the time for the project to be ready in time for the Commonwealth Games in 2010. The terminal will add over 130 check-in counters, 50 emigration and 46 immigration counters to reduce the waiting time for passengers. Spread over 4.4 million sq ft, terminal 3 will also feature 74 aerobridges and 30 remote parking slots for aircraft, apart from 56 passenger “travelators” making it easy for passengers to commute between terminals. L&T will also build a 4,430 metre runway that will be capable of handling A380 aircraft, making it one of the longest runways in Asia.

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