The GMR group has drawn up plans for another runway and a new terminal at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here. Metro rail link up to the airport is also being planned.

GM Rao, Chairman of the GMR group, along with senior officials met Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and discussed expansion plans, including the development of Airport City, a convention centre and metro rail link.

CM’s suggestions The Chief Minister wanted Hyderabad Airport to be developed along with Airport City and an international convention centre. He was keen the terminal gets extended and a second runway constructed in view of the rising passenger traffic at the airport, a statement from the Chief Minister's Office said.

With Hyderabad becoming popular for conventions, the Chief Minister promised all support for the development of a convention-cum-exhibition centre with the capacity to host over 12,000 people.

The airport, which started operations in 2008, handles over 400 flights daily and 17 million passengers passed through it last year. The existing runway and terminal are designed to serve up to 25 million passengers. However, keeping the growth in view, another terminal and a second runway are necessary.

GMR officials assured the Chief Minister that the second runway would be built in the next three years. The Chief Minister said he would lay the foundation stone for the Airport City soon and participate in the decennial celebrations of the airport.

He said the government would take up widening of the roads leading to the airport and extend Hyderabad Metro Rail up to the airport. He wanted a meeting of GMR, Hyderabad Metro Rail and L&T be convened to discuss the Metro expansion.

GM Rao handed over a cheque of ₹12.28 crore towards dividend for the State government’s 13 per cent stake in the airport.

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