Preparing For The Future: 31-Km Hyderabad Airport Metro Makes Provision For Four More Stations

The Hyderabad Airport Metro Ltd (HAML), which is implementing the Airport Metro, has kept the option for four additional metro stations open, considering the requirements of the future.

As per the current plan, the 31-km Metro corridor between Raidurg metro station and Airport terminal station will have nine stations, including one underground metro station adjacent to the airport terminal.

However, as per the updated survey and alignment fixation, the airport metro corridor will have an elevated portion of 29.3 km and an underground portion of 1.7 km, along with provision for four additional metro stations.

“Given the large-scale development of commercial and residential skyscrapers along the airport metro line and Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s vision of facilitating cost-effective accommodation on the outskirts and reverse commute to workplaces in the city by Airport Metro line, provision has also been kept for construction of four additional stations in future,” said HAML managing director N V S Reddy.

HAML, the special purpose vehicle of Telangana government and a joint venture between Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL), Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and Telangana State Industrial and Infrastructure Cooperation (TSIIC) is building the semi-high-speed corridor under the second phase of the Hyderabad Metro.

Project Details

The foundation stone for the Hyderabad Airport Metro Project was laid by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on 9 December last year. Estimated to cost Rs 6,250 crore, the project is fully funded by the state government.

Taking off from Raidurg Metro Station, the semi-high-speed metro will touch Hyderabad’s Outer Ring Road (ORR) at Nanakramguda junction and traverse along the ORR to reach Shamshabad international airport.

The proposed project trains will be running at 120 kmph providing fast commute with likelihood of airport check-in at the starting point.

As of now, most of the preliminary works, like survey, peg marking, alignment fixation etc., have been completed and soil testing is in full swing and is expected to be completed by next month.

Global Tenders

Parallel to the preliminary site work, the HAML last week invited tenders through International Competitive Bidding (ICB) for selection of the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contractor for the project.

The Rs 5,688 crore tender involves design and construction of all the civil structures, including elevated viaduct, underground structures, stations, track works, electrical and mechanical works, supply and commissioning of rolling stock (train sets), electric traction and power supply, signalling, telecommunications and train control systems, automatic fare collection (AFC) gates etc.