KBR Park in Hyderabad to get one elevated corridor instead of 14 flyovers, underpasses
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A continuous one-way traffic system has eased traffic flow around the KBR Park corridor. | Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
The State government has decided to drastically whittle down the road development components planned to be built around the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park as part of the Hyderabad City Innovative & Transformative Infrastructure project (H-CITI) from 14 to one.
Highly placed sources have informed that the decision has been taken in view of the ease with which vehicular traffic is passing around the park after converting the road to one way. However, the order is yet to be passed officially, as final details of the single structure are still being thrashed out.
The consensus, so far, has been to create a two-way elevated corridor from Jubilee Hills Check Post to Nagarjuna Circle instead of seven flyovers and an equal number of underpasses around the park as planned earlier. Officials said, this move would provide major relief on the stretch by providing signal-free corridor for the vehicles travelling to and from Madhapur, Hitech City and beyond.
“After seeing how the traffic is moving without hassle around the park after implementing the one-way rule, the government has decided to redesign the project to create only one structure. While the decision is made, discussions are still on about how to take this forward,” said a top official.
Deliberations are being held with the agency which has been handed over the work through tenders.
As per the original proposal, two- to four-lane flyovers and underpasses were designed to cover junctions at 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, the implementing agency, drew flak from citizens’ groups which protested the structures, stating that it would kill the park by concretising the surroundings. While suggestions of one way had been long advanced by environmentalists, the Hyderabad Traffic Police adopted it only as a temporary fix to prevent logjams caused by the construction. The one-way proved to be a serendipitous find as the permanent solution.
Apart from realisation of the benefits of one-way traffic, property acquisition cost was another major factor that influenced the government’s decision to revise the project. As per the original design, a total 247 properties were to be acquired, some of which belonged to politicians, film stars and other VVIPs.
Sources informed that none of the property owners agreed to accept the Transferable Development Rights in lieu of compensation, which the government tried to push very hard for. This left the government with the sole option of procuring the properties through the provisions of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013.
As per the Act, if the recently revised market values of the Registration department are applied to the compensation payable, it would be a huge drain on the exchequer due to the premium realty around the park.
Several owners have already approached the High Court against the acquisition while a case is pending in the Supreme Court disputing the Eco Sensitive Zone fixed for the park.
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