The completion of the three-kilometer elevated corridor between Malakpet and Santosh Nagar in Hyderabad, which is part of the Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP), has been delayed again. For the past six months, no development activities have taken place, and only the pillars have been built. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) cites delays in land acquisition, lack of coordination with different departments, and the shifting of underground utilities as reasons for the delay.
The stretch from Malakpet to Santosh Nagar, passing through Saidabad, Dhobighat, and I S Sadan junctions, is heavily congested with traffic. The volume of traffic has increased in recent years, and there have been several accidents on this inner ring road. The flyover was supposed to ease traffic but has become a nightmare for commuters, especially during peak hours. The roads near the flyover are damaged, making the ride bumpy, particularly during the monsoon season.
The project was initially announced to be completed in two years with a cost of Rs 523.37 crore. However, it has now crossed three years, and the erection of pillars is still incomplete. The flyover will be 2.58 kilometers long, with the remaining length dedicated to two-side ramps and a four-lane bi-directional flyover. It consists of a total of 72 pillars.
The purpose of the flyover is to reduce travel time to Champapet and Chandrayangutta and alleviate congestion at the IS Sadan junction, Chanchalguda, Saidabad, and Dhobighat junctions. However, commuters who use the Chanchalguda route towards Saidabad and Dhobighat have voiced their frustration with the delay, stating that it has turned into a nightmare. The bad roads and narrow road near each pillar have caused difficulties for commuters.
Despite complaints from commuters, there has been no response from the civic body to address the issues. The elevated corridor will pass through several areas in the city, including Press Road Akbarbagh in Malakpet, Chanchalguda, Saidabad, Dhobighat, and Owaisi Junction in Santosh Nagar. This project is one of the largest in the Old City and aims to facilitate free traffic movement from Nalgonda Crossroads to Owaisi Junction, providing relief at the IS Sadan crossroads.
