[MINUS]

HYDERABAD: A super smooth drive that gives a highway drive pleasure in the midst of the city is the feeling one gets as the vehicles zoom on 11.6 kms long PVNR Expressway that connects Mehdipatnam and Aramghar on the way to international airport at Shamshabad.

The longest flyover in the country is nowhere near to what we call roads in the Indian context.

It is a pleasure that one rarely experiences on city roads. A few curves apart, which are aesthetically designed infusing lot of comfort, the straight elevated expressway showcases the rapid development of the city on way to the airport and a calm and comfortable driving. The absence of red lights and hindrances in the form of humans or animals make it an enjoyable drive.

It was a similar feeling for the Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, HMDA Commissioner, Jawahar Reddy, senior officials and journalists who were on a trip to experience the new flyover that is almost complete and ready to be opened for general public. The elevated expressway touching Mehdipatnam, Rajendranagar, Attapur and a few new colonies before ending at Aramghar will not only cut down the travel time considerably to the international airport but also leave the travellers with a soothing experience.

The Minister said it would be thrown open to the people before Deepavali by the Chief Minister K. Rosaiah. Before that, trial runs would be carried out for a few days to check and plug deficiencies in the construction.

He said a few minor works, which were delayed to due to heavy rains would be attended before the trail runs start. Painting works to kerbs, crash barriers and railings; fixing of signages, electrification and placing the median slabs are to be done and this work would take a few dry days to be completed.

During the trial runs, the expressway will be open only for four-wheelers.

Two-wheelers, three-wheelers and other heavy vehicles like lorries and trucks will not be allowed to ply. The government has spent Rs. 600 crore for the project of which Rs. 439 crore was spent for the flyover construction and the rest Rs.161 crore was used for land acquisition, shifting of utilities, subworks and also as cushion for price escalation.

A four-lane divided carriage way with a length of 11.6 kms is built with state-of-the-art innovative technology by adopting segmental type post tensioned construction of superstructure.

The modern overhead launchers were employed for launching of segments. The corridor is also equipped with necessary instrumentation for monitoring the flyover health.

Other major components of the project include Trumpet Interchange for smooth flow of traffic to airport from Hyderabad and Bangalore side; Underpass on National Highway-7 at Aramghar junction for uninterrupted flow of traffic; widening and strengthening of Atgrade IRR from Rethibowli to Aramghar from four lanes to six lanes.

Source : The Hindu