HYDERABAD: With the completion of the general arrangement drawings for the crucial components of the 11.5 km elevated expressway corridor from Mehdipatnam to the International Airport at Shamshabad, work on the ground would begin in about a week.

The work on the longest elevated expressway in the country would have four components - flyover from Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital to Aramghar, underpass at Aramghar, trumpet interchange on the Bangalore Highway for easy connectivity from the highway to the International Airport and strengthening and widening the existing inner ring road from Rethibowli junction to Aramghar junction - according to HUDA chief engineer Vivek Deshmukh.

Unique feature

`Trumpet interchange' is a unique feature of the elevated expressway facilitating smooth flow of vehicles coming from various directions to the International Airport.

The developer, Simplex Somdutt, a joint venture company, bagged the project by quoting Rs.439 crores. The company was given letter of acceptance by HUDA on August 9 and the letter to proceed on September 1.

A site at Shamshabad has been given on lease for the company to set up the batching plant for producing concrete, casting of girders. As of now, batching plant has been erected and preparation is on for casting of girders, Mr. Deshmukh said.

With water lines and AP Transco cables criss-crossing the site of the expressway, the Metro Water Works and AP Transco have been requested to shift utilities and HUDA would bear the expenses. Meanwhile, the Municipal Corporation and Urban Forestry wing of HUDA would translocate existing plants at the median.

Besides the ongoing preparatory work, the project has also got Environment Impact Assessment clearance by the Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board in the recently held technical committee meeting, Mr. Deshmukh said. The 26-month duration for completion of the project would be calculated from September 1when the Letter to Proceed was given to the company. However, connectivity to the International Airport would be provided within 20 months, by April 2008, Mr. Deshmukh disclosed.

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