At last, Hyderabad got an International airport constructing contract given to GMR group. Airport is located at the out skirts of the city. It is built fabulous, good landscaping and worth travelling so many kilometers from the city. From Secunderabad Railway station it’s around 40kms to the airport. Good architectural design, white ceilings, Loads of Glass, Thick Iron structure and Granite flooring. I accept there are lots of problems in providing services to the passengers but it’s under learning / implementation process. I think it will take minimum an year to rectify and include more facilities. More than 2000 Radio cabs were in place to provide pick up facilities across Hyderabad and Secunderabad. On the other part, travelling 40kms a stretch is very heretic and roads are in bad shape. We feel as if travelling to village and the journey time takes minimum of 2 hours. While in the journey definitely there is a feeling, better to travel to other city by train and take a flight from there. But that is not feasible. There is no maintenance in the airport all the glasses are dusty and lot of stains and poor benches without back rests for the visitors and white ceiling is built with some kind of thick plastic material which is getting dusted. I feel after few months it’s impossible to clean. Granite flooring has lost the shine and looking 10 years old flooring. I believe there are 4 runways and 1 is operational. This airport requires lot of maintenance and i am worried without maintenance in a year become worst. Look’s good only in initial period. I visited to airport on 12th April 2008 after 20days of operations. But it’s very much functional to accommodate lot of flights.

 

I feel, before opening the airport the connectivity facilities such as roads, trains and transport should have given prior importance. Passengers are suffering a lot. Actually there is a proposal in laying high speed trains to the airport, but the central government has not sanctioned. On the otherway the government sanctioned 2000 cores to Secunderabad Railway station for renovation which is already renovated. 12kilometres flyover is coming up in short period connecting from airport to city.

 

Good news to the drivers for Radio cabs. They are getting paid Rs.10000/- per month and after a period of 48 months they will be given ownership of the car which is going to be a gift. Radio cabs required more drivers to fill 2000 cars. Mahindra Logan is placed for the taxis with good trunk (very good luggage space). Initially they planned Tata Indigo unfortunately Logan has taken the lead.

 

I will be posting more and more info on the Airport very shortly and I recommend visitors to post their experiences in this regard.