Railways mulls underground rail link to Hyderabad airport

Railways will explore the possibility of providing train connectivity to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad here from Umdanagar near here through an underground network.
Announcing this today, Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu said feasibility study of the project will be assigned to Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES).
He was speaking at an event organised at Secunderabad station after flagging off two passenger trains and a weekly Cargo Express Service of Container Corporation of India (Concor).
Extension of Multi Modal Transport System (MMTS or suburban network) connectivity to Shamshabad Airport from Umdanagar (on city's outskirts) through underground connectivity can it be taken up, Prabhu said.

RITES has been asked to submit a report in this regard, the Minister said.
"Telangana is the youngest state of the country and there is a need to provide it more help. As announced in this year's Rail Budget, Railways will set up two new world-class greenfield terminals at Cherlapalli and Nagulapalli here in a time-bound manner with cooperation of the state government," Prabhu said.

Earlier, Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment Bandaru Dattatreya appreciated Prabhu's efforts to develop rail infrastructure in Telangana.
The Lok Sabha MP from Secunderabad also requested Prabhu to provide rail connectivity to Shamshabad Airport (officially named after ex-PM Rajiv Gandhi).

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir said the Centre is working hand in hand with the States for progress of the nation under the slogan 'Sab Ka Saath Sab Ka Vikas' (together with all, development for all).