Take-Off Trouble for Airport at Shamshabad

January 7, 2004

Take-Off Trouble for Airport
Times of India

It's been three-and-a-half years since the idea of an international airport at 
Shamshabad was mooted. 

  


But, in true bureaucratic tradition, the official status on the project is that 
it’s yet to take off. In fact, the first phase of the project is still to get 
started. 

  

“We are sorting out a few issues and a couple of government orders will be 
sent out in this connection," says Ram Krishna Reddy, additional secretary, 
Transport, Roads and Building. 

  

Bidding for the prestigious project started in August 2000. That’s when the 
then roads and buildings minister K Vijayarama Rao had stated, “We have six 
serious bidders. By mid-October, the evaluation of bids will be completed. The 
project will be completed within five years." 

  

Located 25 km from Hyderabad, the airport would sprawl across 5,000 acres and 
the project outlay is around Rs 2,883 crore. The project is a joint venture by 
the state government and a Malyasian firm. 

  

The project was to be completed in four phases, with the first phase aiming at 
creating facilities for handling 10 crore passengers and 10 tonnes of cargo per 
annum. Interestingly, a government website mentions that the first phase would 
finish by 2010 and the fourth phase extends as far as 2050. 

  

Says Reddy, “The High Court recently dismissed a petition filed by an NGO 
that was opposing the construction of the airport." 

  

Farmers whose lands were being acquired for the project also went up in arms. 
The Ministry of Defence had also complained against the construction as it was 
close to a missile development base. 

  

So when will the project start? “Work will begin this September," says the 
additional secretary. 

 
 

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