The Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML) has invited global tenders for the construction of the Airport Express line, a 31-km corridor that will connect the city to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Shamshabad. The estimated contract value of the project is Rs 5,688 crore. The bids have been invited for the selection of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project. The estimated contract value includes the cost of design and all civil works including elevated viaduct, underground structures, stations, track works, electrical and mechanical works, supply and commissioning of rolling stock (train sets), electric traction and power supply, signalling, telecommunications and train control systems, automatic fare collection (AFC) gates, etc. The pre-construction works of the project like survey, peg marking and alignment fixation have already been completed. Soil testing is “in full swing”, said NVS Reddy, Managing Director of Hyderabad Metro. Out of the 31 km stretch of the corridor between Raidurg metro station and the Airport terminal in Shamshabad, 29.3 km will be elevated stretch and 1.7 km will be underground. The line will have nine stations including one underground metro station adjacent to the airport terminal. “In view of the large-scale development of commercial and residential skyscrapers along the airport metro line and the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s vision of facilitating cost-effective accommodation on the outskirts and reverse commute to workplaces in the city by Airport Metro line, provision has also been kept for construction of four additional stations in future,” the release stated. The last date for bid submission of tenders is July 5. The construction of the Airport Express line is expected to be completed in three years. Once completed, the line will reduce the travel time between the city and the airport to around 20 minutes. The line will also help to decongest the roads and provide a more convenient and affordable mode of transportation for passengers. The construction of the Airport Express line is a major step forward in the development of the public transportation system in Hyderabad. The line will help to improve connectivity between the city and the airport and will provide a more convenient and affordable mode of transportation for passengers.