GHMC’s ₹345 crore flyover plan revives push for rail link to airport

GHMC’s ₹345 crore flyover plan revives push for rail link to airport

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation’s (GHMC) proposal to construct a new ₹345 crore, six-lane flyover across the Mailardevpally, Shamshabad and Katedan junctions running almost parallel to the proposed metro rail link to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) has revived citizens demand for a rail link to the airport.

The bi-directional flyover, planned under the Hyderabad City Innovation and Transformative Infrastructure (HCITI) initiative, aims to ensure free vehicle movement, benefiting not only airport-bound passengers but also those using the national highway and seeking to bypass the junctions congestion.

While welcoming the project, citizens are urging the government to also consider a complementary approach: partnering with the South Central Railway (SCR) to complete the final six-kilometre stretch from Umdanagar railway station to the airport terminal to offer “cost-effective, faster and environmentally friendly public transport alternative”.

“At present, passengers are forced to depend on airport buses or private vehicles, which increases travel and parking expenses. A passenger-friendly transport system that can be executed at minimum cost should be prioritised,” said a former railway official and long-time advocate of suburban train MMTS services, Noor Ahmed Ali.

He urged the Revanth Reddy government to persuade RGIA authorities to grant ‘right of way’ for an on-ground railway track up to the terminal, along with land for a station and access to the main foyer similar to the metro rail connectivity being planned.

According to him, the project could be completed within months at a modest cost, shared with the railways, while ticket prices would remain low as per MMTS fares. “Passengers can reach the airport faster than by road,” he noted.