Begumpet Underpass Runway Tunnel to Receive AAI Approval Soon

In a bid to ease the city’s growing traffic congestion, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Board is expected to soon grant approval for the construction of a 600-metre-long, six-lane underpass tunnel beneath the Begumpet Airport runway . Official sources indicated that the approval process is likely to be completed within the next two weeks.

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy recently stated that this would be the first project in the country to construct a traffic tunnel beneath an airport runway. He expressed confidence that it would serve as a key solution to Hyderabad’s traffic problems .

The tunnel forms part of a 5.5-kilometre elevated corridor being developed from Paradise to Suchitra Junction. The total estimated cost of the project is ₹550 crore . Once completed, the corridor is expected to facilitate smooth traffic flow for commuters travelling from Hyderabad towards the northern Telangana districts .

Road expansion in the Tadbund area has been hindered by a sharp bend and difficulties in land acquisition. To overcome this, officials have opted to bypass the stretch by constructing a tunnel directly beneath the Begumpet runway . Teams from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and AAI are currently reviewing the tunnel designs in detail.

Since assuming office, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has been closely monitoring the project over the past two years. The AAI Chairman has already assured the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) Commissioner of preliminary clearances to begin work . Construction activities have already commenced at Paradise.

Meanwhile, a similar underpass is being constructed by the Uttar Pradesh government beneath the Varanasi International Airport runway for National Highway 31 . HMDA officials noted that although Telangana had applied earlier, Uttar Pradesh received approvals faster .

The government aims to complete the entire project within the next two years .