One of the most enduring legacies of Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was his ability to think beyond standalone projects and build integrated infrastructure systems.
The best example is Hyderabad's Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and the PV Narasimha Rao Elevated Expressway.
In 2005, the same year the airport project moved forward, Dr. YSR ensured that a world-class road network was planned alongside it.
He understood a simple truth that an airport without seamless connectivity is only half a vision.
The 11.6-kilometre PVNR Elevated Expressway, built at a cost of Rs 570.46 crore by HMDA, connected Mehdipatnam to Aramghar Junction and provided signal-free access to Shamshabad Airport. It was India's longest flyover when it opened.
The road was named after former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, the first Telugu Prime Minister.
The expressway was completed in September 2009, but Dr YSR tragically passed away on September 2, just weeks before its scheduled inauguration. It was later inaugurated by Chief Minister K Rosaiah.
What stands out is the planning philosophy. The airport, Outer Ring Road, Metro connectivity and expressway were conceived as parts of a single ecosystem.
This is where the present Bhogapuram Airport project near Visakhapatnam raises important questions.
Why is the airport being built first while discussions on a high-speed access corridor to Visakhapatnam city are still ongoing?
A modern international airport's success depends not only on runways and terminals but also on how quickly passengers can reach the city.
If Bhogapuram Airport is inaugurated without a dedicated express road connecting it to Visakhapatnam, the project could face criticism from travellers and the public, as at present it would take four hours to commute from Vizag city to the Bhogapuram airport in peak traffic hours.
Long travel times may overshadow the achievement of building a new airport.
The good news is that the present alliance government still has several years left in its term. There is ample time to complete an expressway between Bhogapuram and Visakhapatnam.
History shows it can be done. Dr. YSR demonstrated that major connectivity projects can be executed swiftly when there is political will and clear planning.
Bhogapuram in Andhra Pradesh deserves the same integrated vision that transformed Hyderabad's airport corridor into a model of urban infrastructure.
Kiran Sharma
