The Telangana State government has made a significant decision to reduce the road infrastructure planned around Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park in Hyderabad. Instead of constructing 14 structures including seven flyovers and seven underpasses, authorities will now build just one elevated corridor as part of the Hyderabad City Innovative & Transformative Infrastructure project (H-CITI).
The revised plan emerged after the successful implementation of a one-way traffic system around the park, which has significantly eased vehicular movement. High-ranking officials stated that the government observed smooth traffic flow following the one-way conversion and decided to redesign the entire project accordingly. The official order is expected once final technical details of the single structure are finalized.
The proposed structure will be a two-way elevated corridor extending from Jubilee Hills Check Post to Nagarjuna Circle. This design will create a signal-free passage for vehicles traveling to and from Madhapur, Hitech City and surrounding areas. Officials believe this approach will provide substantial relief to commuters while minimizing environmental impact on the park surroundings.
The original project design had drawn strong opposition from citizens’ groups and environmental activists who argued that 14 concrete structures would damage the park’s ecosystem. The planned flyovers and underpasses were meant to cover major junctions including Jubilee Hills Checkpost, KBR National Park entrance, Road No. 2, Road No. 45, Film Nagar (Road No. 82), Road No. 12, and Road No. 10. The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, serving as the implementing agency, faced considerable criticism over these plans.
Property acquisition costs played a crucial role in the government’s decision to scale down the project. The original plan required acquiring 247 properties, many owned by politicians, film personalities and other prominent individuals. Sources revealed that property owners refused to accept Transferable Development Rights as compensation, forcing the government to consider payments under the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. The compensation amount based on revised market values would have been extremely high due to the premium real estate location.
Legal challenges have further complicated the situation, with several property owners filing cases in the High Court against the acquisition process. A separate case remains pending in the Supreme Court regarding the Eco Sensitive Zone designated for the park. The Hyderabad Traffic Police initially implemented the one-way system as a temporary measure during construction, which unexpectedly proved to be an effective permanent solution for traffic management around the park.
