Everyday, over 40,000 cars travel to Hyderabad airport; TGSRTC buses make only 400 trips

More than 80,000 vehicles travel to and from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport on Hyderabad outskirts every day, placing heavy pressure on the limited road infrastructure connecting the city to the airport. Over 40,000 private cars and cabs take the airport ramp daily, according to the airport authorities. The Shamshabad corridor has emerged as the busiest and most overburdened route, while an alternative access road via Srisailam route remains underused.

Cyberabad Joint Commissioner (Traffic) Gajarao Bhupal says, “The Shamshabad corridor remains the most heavily used route to and from the airport, and traffic on that stretch has been increasing year after year. Although there is an alternate road via Srisailam route, it is not widely used. There is effectively only one main route, especially for those exiting the airport, which is often congested.”

Mr. Bhupal said the upcoming metro line is expected to provide some relief but stressed that a stronger and more reliable bus network is also essential. “Right now, we do have some bus services, but their frequency is too low, and the number of buses too few. As a result, most travellers rely on private vehicles,” he added.

Transport planners and urban mobility experts have emphasised the need to scale up airport bus services. Prashanth Bachu, one of the experts, pointed out that the road space consumed by airport-bound private vehicles is substantial. “With most airport trips covering over 30 kilometres each one way from the city or airport, the daily volume of private cars is equivalent to occupying six full lanes of traffic — three in each direction — throughout the day,” he noted.

2,500 bus trips can replace 7,500 cars

Mr. Bachu suggested that deploying 250 buses across 12 high-demand corridors from the city [Like L.B. Nagar], each making 10 trips per day at 10 to 15-minute intervals. This could shift nearly half of current airport-bound trips away from private vehicles. “These 2,500 daily bus trips would translate to road usage similar to that of 7,500 cars, less than half the capacity of a single lane. This would allow the city to reclaim at least two lanes’ worth of road space,” he said.

400 RTC bus trips to airport is 1% of total private vehicle trips

Currently, the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TGSRTC) operates only 40 airport buses, covering around 400 trips daily, which makes up less than 1% of the total number of private vehicle trips to the airport. Service intervals range from 20 to 60 minutes, making the service unreliable, especially for time-sensitive airport commuters.

Passengers who have to catch flights avoid taking buses

A transport planner, who did not wish to be named, noted that many passengers avoid taking buses to the airport because they fear delays. “Missing one bus could mean waiting nearly an hour, which is a major risk when catching a flight. This is also why airport bus service remains largely unidirectional, with greater uptake for the return journey into the city,” he said. While expanding the bus fleet may not instantly solve the congestion problem, he argued that it is a necessary step toward long-term improvement.

“In routes with strong frequency, like JNTU and L.B. Nagar, airport buses already run near capacity. The demand exists, but the service has to match it,” Mr. Bachu added.

Experts noted that while reliability is key, high fares also discourage many commuters, especially frequent travellers. “Doubling average ridership per bus from 140 to 250 passengers per day through better route planning, higher frequency and reduced fare could make the service both efficient and sustainable,” Mr. Bachu said.

Compared to Bengaluru, Hyderabad’s airport bus network remains patchy. “The government needs to consider both push and pull factors. While incentivising bus use through better service is crucial, there should also be modest disincentives for those relying on private vehicles, perhaps through higher parking or access fees,” the expert suggested.