Hyderabad: The long-awaited widening of the Bijapur-Hyderabad Highway or Moinabad Highway is moving forward, with authorities assuring that minimal damage will be caused to the environment.
As part of the project, the 46 km stretch will be expanded into a four-lane road at an estimated cost of ₹1,000 crore. Officials confirmed that land acquisition for the project has already been completed, clearing a major hurdle for construction.
One of the key concerns raised during the planning was the fate of nearly 950 trees along the stretch. Environmental activists had approached the National Green Tribunal (NGT), urging protection of the green cover. In response, the government and the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) have taken measures to reduce the impact:
- Tree removal will be avoided as much as possible through redesigning parts of the road.
- Out of the 950 affected trees, about 150 will be relocated to safer areas.
- The remaining trees will be preserved through alternate planning.
Officials have assured that the project will balance infrastructure needs with environmental concerns. With these steps, the government is now seeking withdrawal of the NGT case, signaling that the project may proceed without further legal delays.
Once completed, the widened highway is expected to significantly improve connectivity and boost economic activity between Telangana and Karnataka, while also setting an example for sustainable infrastructure development.
