Telangana’s state cabinet has cleared the much-anticipated ₹19,579 crore Phase 2B expansion of the Hyderabad Metro Rail project. With a proposed extension of 86.1 kilometres across key corridors, the project is poised to reshape the city’s transport architecture and drive forward the vision of equitable, low-carbon urban mobility. The initiative will be jointly implemented by the State and Central Governments, with proposals to be submitted for Union approval in the coming weeks.
According to officials familiar with the development, the proposed Phase 2B will connect the city’s growing airport zone, residential peripheries, and institutional hubs. This includes three vital corridors: a 39.6 km route from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) to the Future City near the southern outskirts, a 24.5 km link between Jubilee Bus Station and Medchal in the north, and a 22 km corridor from Jubilee Bus Station to Shamirpet, integrating both elevated and underground segments. These corridors aim to reduce dependence on personal vehicles, enhance multimodal access, and promote transit-oriented development in underserved areas. The Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) for these corridors were finalised by Hyderabad Airport Metro Limited (HAML), which has been overseeing planning and implementation for the city’s second phase. These documents offer comprehensive blueprints on route alignment, projected ridership, environmental impact, station locations, and integration with the existing metro network. Officials have indicated that this phase will be funded through a state-centre cost-sharing model, in contrast to the earlier PPP model adopted during Phase 1, which was one of the largest metro projects in the world built under public-private partnership.
The move to public funding is a strategic shift intended to ensure greater control, financial stability, and timely implementation. Officials said this would also allow better alignment with national urban mobility standards and easier access to low-interest institutional funding. State agencies will be responsible for land acquisition, preliminary works, and service utility relocation, while central participation will focus on infrastructure co-financing and regulatory clearances. Currently, Hyderabad Metro spans 69 kilometres across three operational corridors and has significantly decongested several arterial roads since its launch. However, areas like Medchal, Shamirpet, and the southern airport zone remain underserved, with growing daily commute volumes. The new expansion is expected to directly address this demand, especially as Hyderabad’s economic and population growth intensifies across the Outer Ring Road corridor.
Experts see the approval as a critical step in realising a more sustainable, inclusive metro network. With enhanced access to the airport and major suburban growth centres, Phase 2B aligns with broader goals of net-zero carbon transport systems. Notably, the Future City corridor is being designed with provisions for at-grade and elevated rail segments to ensure minimal disruption to local ecosystems and optimise energy efficiency. The 1.65 km underground section near Shamirpet has been included to safeguard sensitive defence and environmental zones. Urban planners and transport experts have highlighted the Phase 2B design as a model of adaptive urban transport planning. By integrating elevated and underground technologies, the corridors aim to ensure last-mile reach in congested or high-value zones while keeping construction timelines and costs manageable. Moreover, the focus on intermodal integration at key stations, such as Jubilee Bus Station and Shamshabad, promises to improve commuter experience and lower overall travel time across the city.
Public feedback has also been considered during the design stage, particularly for station placement, feeder bus access, and disability-inclusive infrastructure. Officials have confirmed that all new stations will incorporate universal design standards, gender-neutral amenities, and solar-ready infrastructure. Water management, tree preservation, and noise reduction measures will also be implemented as part of the broader sustainability vision. While cabinet clearance is a milestone, the project’s actual implementation will depend on timely financial approvals and coordination between multiple stakeholders, including the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, the Airports Authority of India, and local municipal bodies. Officials remain optimistic that tenders can be floated by late 2025, with civil works beginning early in 2026, subject to environmental and land-related approvals.
The broader public sentiment in Hyderabad appears supportive of the expansion, especially as increasing vehicular density and limited public bus coverage have strained the city’s transport systems. Once completed, Phase 2B will not only serve as a commuter convenience but also stimulate equitable real estate growth in Medchal, Shamirpet, and the airport catchment zones. These are areas already witnessing speculative housing activity and industrial interest, and metro connectivity could significantly elevate their viability. For Hyderabad, which is fast evolving as a tech-investment and educational hub, a well-connected metro backbone is no longer an aspiration—it is a necessity. Phase 2B brings the city closer to that ideal, promising not just physical connectivity but also economic upliftment, environmental gains, and social cohesion.
If delivered on time and with fidelity to its stated vision, the Hyderabad Metro Phase 2B could well become a blueprint for other Indian cities looking to expand urban mobility in a climate-resilient and citizen-centric manner.
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