Hyderabad:
Hyderabad can now boast of the longest flyover in the country. An elevated expressway that has drastically cut travel time to the city's international airport was opened to the public on Tuesday.
P V Narasimha Rao is credited with putting India on the fast lane for economic reforms. Now the new express highway, named after the former Prime Minister, has put Hyderabad literally on the fast lane. This 11.66 km expressway is said to be the longest flyover in Asia.
"I feel good about it. It is very good for the traffic," said Vani Devi, PV Narasimha Rao's daughter.
This was the dream project of YS Rajasekhara Reddy and was supposed to have been ready by May 2008. Six ramps that are to come up at different points on this stretch will be ready only by March 2010.
"It has been built very fast. It began in 2006 and has been completed in 2009. That in itself is a miracle," said K Rosaiah, Andhra Peadesh Chief Minister.
There is a delay of one and a half years but no one is complaining, after all this stretch - built at the cost of Rs 660 crore - to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport that used to take over half hour may now take just about 10 minutes.