Hyderabad:The ambitious Hyderabad Regional Ring Road (RRR) project is set to become one of the costliest highway infrastructure projects in the state, with an estimated cost of ₹52.5 crore per kilometre according to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). According to the detailed project report (DPR) prepared by the NHAI, the 162-kilometre northern segment of the RRR is expected to cost approximately ₹8,500 crore.
A key factor driving up the cost is the proposed elevation of the road to a height of 16.4 feet to mitigate the risk of flooding. The alignment of the RRR traverses several flood-prone zones on the city’s outskirts, areas that have witnessed frequent heavy downpours and waterlogging in recent years.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had conducted a high-level review meeting on the project on May 6, where the DPR was discussed, official sources said. Officials briefed the Chief Minister that although the RRR was conceived as an eight-lane express highway, the NHAI’s DPR recommended an initial construction of a four-lane, access-controlled highway, based on current traffic projections. Provisions will be made to upgrade it to eight lanes in the future should traffic demands increase.
The elevation requirement will make the RRR function much like an extended elevated corridor, contributing significantly to the project’s overall expenditure. Additionally, the road’s alignment requires the crossing of three major rivers, the Musi, Manjira, and the Haridra, necessitating the construction of substantial bridges capable of accommodating future lane expansions.
At Valigonda in Nalgonda district, a one-kilometre-long bridge over the Musi river is planned at a cost of nearly ₹100 crore. In Pulkal mandal of Sangareddy district, a 600-metre bridge over the Manjira river is estimated at ₹75 crore. Another 500-metre bridge over the Haridra river near Toopran in Medak district will cost around ₹70 crore.
The DPR also proposes the construction of 190 small bridges and underpasses to navigate existing roads, canals and streams, including 105 underpasses featuring 10-foot-wide roads for local traffic. In locations with culverts and underpasses, the RRR will be elevated to 18 feet to ensure adequate clearance.
To ensure the uninterrupted natural flow of water from canals, check dams and hill streams, another 85 small culverts will be built along the route. The construction of these bridges, culverts, underpasses and associated infrastructure is projected to cost nearly ₹2,000 crore. The RRR will feature thick tar layers designed to enable vehicles to travel safely at speeds up to 120 kmph.
