The Central government has sanctioned a significant modification to the Hyderabad Regional Ring Road (RRR) initiative, enhancing the proposed northern segment from a four-lane to a six-lane expressway. This decision comes in response to a request from the Telangana state government, which highlighted expected traffic increases and potential congestion challenges.
Originally tendered in December 2024 as a four-lane access-controlled greenfield expressway, the 161.5 km northern segment—from Sangareddy to Choutuppal—was projected to cost Rs 55.5 billion. Following the Centre’s preliminary approval for a six-lane design, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has commenced the revision of the Detailed Project Report (DPR) and is undertaking updated traffic assessments. Instead of issuing new tenders, the authorities will request that previously shortlisted bidders modify and resubmit their proposals to conform to the six-lane layout.
Although the RRR was initially planned as an eight-lane corridor, earlier traffic analyses resulted in a reduced four-lane design, with plans for phased expansion. However, the Centre has now opted to construct six lanes from the outset, with the possibility of expanding to eight lanes in the future as needed. Officials have indicated that anticipated traffic volumes upon completion will surpass the capacity of a four-lane road. Land acquisition for the northern segment is nearly finalized, with costs being equally divided between the state and the Centre.
The timeline for project completion is set at two years, followed by a maintenance period of five years. In the meantime, the state government has initiated the preparation of the DPR for the southern segment of the RRR and has designated an agency to oversee the planning process. While the Centre is fully financing the northern segment, it remains to be determined whether the southern section will receive central funding or be supported by state resources.