Tough task to plan alternatives
The decade-long proposal to build a flyover at Amberpet has been finalised, and officials are identifying alternative routes to divert traffic to facilitate its construction. In the 10 years it was in the planning, its cost has risen from `100 crore to `240 crore.
The revenue department and GHMC have identified 281 properties including commercial and residential buildings for acquisition, and are in talks with the owners.
The road from Kacheguda traffic police station to Ramanthapur on National Highway 202 to Warangal was widened in 2002 during the time of the Naidu government. In 2006, the Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy government in 2006 decided to build a flyover on the road. The then Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad carried out a survey, but dropped proposal as it lacked funds.
It was revived again in 2010 by local BJP legislator G. Kishan Reddy. The GHMC conducted another survey in 2012 and prepared a plan for a flyover costing `100 crore. Cashstrapped, it asked the roads and buildings department for financial assistance. The department pointed out that the road was with the National Highways Authority of India.
Mr Kishan Reddy continued to pursue the project, and Union minister Nitin Gadkari recently assured that `240 crore would be released for the proposed flyover. Traffic flow may be hindered once work on the Amberpet flyover begins, Bagh Amberpet corporator Kuchalakanti Padmavati said it would take at least two years to complete work.
With Metro Rail works at Malakpet leading to traffic congestion on the Vijayawada highway, traffic police was diverting vehicles through Golnaka to Moosarambagh or Che Number junction on the Amberpet road.
Apart from the Golnaka-Moosarambagh route, officials have a few alternatives — Bagh Amberpet to Ramanthapur and to Vinayaknagar Chowrasta. These roads may not be sufficient.
Amberpet MLA G. Kishan Reddy said that the GHMC would construct two new roads before beginning the flyover works.
“Town planning officials inspected the stretch from Ali Cafe Chowrasta to Nagole road along the Musi. A road is available from Uppal Metro depot to Ramanthapur and the Uppal Industrial area,” he said.