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Expressway behind schedule
Posted by Srini Uppala | January 22, 2008 | 1,023 views
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Loading ...Racing against time: Construction activity is in full swing at the Elevated Expressway which will provide faster access to International Airport at Shamshabad. -
 
Photo courtesy: The HinduÂ
 If one is expecting to cruise along the P.V.Narasimha Rao Elevated Expressway - the longest flyover in the country - to the Shamshabad International Airport to be opened on March 16, then one has to wait till October, 2008.
However, this will not hamper the smooth flow of traffic from Mehdipatnam to Aramghar junction as the Inner Ring Road stretch from Rethibowli junction to Aramghar junction on NH-7 is being widened from a four-lane road to a six-lane one.
Key junction
The widening will be completed by February15 and 50 per cent of the 62-metre wide underpass at Aramghar junction will be ready by March. The underpass is an important signal-free junction to allow traffic going towards Chandrayangutta without hampering traffic proceeding towards the airport on NH-7, says HUDA Chief Engineer Vivek Deshmukh.
The NH-7 is already widened to six-lane from Aramghar junction by NHAI to ensure the smooth flow of traffic to the airport.
The 11.5 km elevated superstructure from Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital in Mehdipatnam to Aramghar Junction is one of the components of the Elevated Expressway project for speedy access to the International Airport from the city.
Two phases
The superstructure is planned in two phases, first phase till Hyderguda junction is expected to be ready by July and the second phase till Aramghar by October, 2008.
The HUDA will also provide free left approach road from the NH-7, about six km away from the Shamshabad Airport, to provide entry and exit points to the airport by March, he said.
HUDA initially planned to complete the first phase of the superstructure till Hyderguda junction by March this year, but the schedule got delayed due to several factors, including delay in grounding the work, shifting of utilities, unseasonal rain, shifting of statues, land acquisition issues near Musi bridge and defence land near Mehdipatnam.
Similarly, Trumpet Interchange, a trumpet-shaped flyover on the NH-7, six km away from the airport, to provide conflict-free movement of vehicles proceeding to the city from Shamshabad and those going towards Gachibowli from the airport was planned to be completed by March. But the delay in securing permission from NHAI has upset the schedule. The Trumpet Interchange would now be ready by July, Mr.Deshmukh said.
Another connectivity
HUDA is also planning another faster connectivity to Shamshabad International Airport through 10 km P-7 Road from Srisailam Highway to Inner Ring Road (IRR), ultimately connecting NH7. While the HUDA would be laying seven km of the road and the APIIC would take care of the remaining three km.
The HUDA has already completed 50 per cent of the rest will be completed by April, according to HUDA officials. Apart from ORR phase I, from Gachibowli to Shamshabad and Elevated Expressway, the connectivity to airport is sought to be improved through widening the entire 52 km of IRR.
SOURCES:
The Hindu
Topics: Govt Failures, Infrastructure |
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