Poll impact: GHMC to shift projects to HMDA
Authority to work on Khajaguda tunnel and other projects
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is contemplating to hand over Khajaguda tunnel, 8.5 km doubledecker elevated skyway, from Paradise to Kandlakoya along National Highway 44 on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) and other projects to Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA). Officials said that the decision was a direct impact on GHMC polls to minimise political interference.
According to GHMC officials, a 502.9-metre long tunnel is planned as part of a long-term measure to develop a new route connecting Inorbit Mall to Chitrapuri Colony via Hyderabad Knowledge City in order to substantially ease traffic movement in Gachibowli junction. The new route development includes a tunnel, elevated corridor, loop and approach and down ramps, all being taken up at an estimated cost of ` 875 crore.
Of that ` 775 crore will be used for civil works, including about ` 300 crore for construction of the tunnel, while ` 100 crore goes for land acquisition. The 502.9-metre facility, in fact, gets bifurcated into two independent tunnels facilitating bilateral traffic flow Inorbit Mall to Khajaguda end and vice-versa.
Each independent tunnel will be 19 metres wide. The approach ramps will be passing over Khajaguda junction towards Chitrapuri Colony to avoid any traffic conflict at the junction. On the Inorbit Mall end, approach ramps will be an elevated facilitating entry into the tunnel. This apart, two double-decker elevated skyways will be also handed over to HMDA, which also includes the land acquisition process, since all three projects are not included in the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) project.
A 18.5 kms double-decker elevated skyway from Paradise to Kandlakoya along National Highway 44 on the Outer Ring Road (ORR), is set to take shape soon. It will provide compatibility for a future Metro Rail project on the same pier.
A senior GHMC official, on condition of anonymity, said that the civic body would complete all ongoing projects too if the State government releases ` 10,000 crore from the budget as promised for Hyderabad urban agglomeration. However, the official said that Khajaguda and other two doubledecker elevated corridors, which would cost around ` 6,700 crore, will be executed either by TSIIC or HMDA based on the decision taken by the government, since both the nodal agencies are self-sustainable. The official said that if the projects will be executed by the GHMC it would face too many complications, primarily political interference.
● EACH INDEPENDENT tunnel will be 19 metres wide. The approach ramps will be passing over Khajaguda junction towards Chitrapuri Colony to avoid any traffic conflict at the junction. On the Inorbit Mall end, approach ramps will be an elevated facilitating entry into the tunnel.