Commuters Back KBR One-Way System, Question Need for ₹1,000-Crore Flyover Project

A temporary one-way traffic system around Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park in Hyderabad has significantly eased vehicular flow, prompting commuters, environmentalists, and ground personnel to question the necessity of constructing massive grade separators in the area.

What Happened

On August 18, the Hyderabad Traffic Police implemented a one-way traffic loop on the roads circling KBR National Park, including key junctions connecting Road No. 82, Road No. 92, Jubilee Hills Checkpost, and Road No. 45. The change was originally introduced to facilitate construction under the Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure (H-CITI) project, which plans to build seven flyovers and seven underpasses at a cost exceeding ₹1,000 crore.

Despite initial chaos on the first day, traffic quickly adjusted to the unidirectional system. Regular commuters have reported drastic drops in travel times. For instance, regular commuter Mohammed Shaheer Zaman noted that his commute from the Cancer Hospital to Road No. 45 decreased from roughly 30 minutes to just five minutes. Google Maps data along the corridor has displayed predominantly blue lines throughout the day, indicating free-flowing movement, with brief orange slowdowns limited primarily to spots where deep trenches have been dug for the H-CITI project.

Key Highlights

• Significant Time Reductions: Commuters report travel times being reduced to a third of what they were prior to the change, aided by the elimination of frequent, traffic-slowing U-turns.
• Project Scope: The H-CITI initiative entails building seven flyovers and seven underpasses at an estimated cost of more than ₹1,000 crore.
• Bottlenecks and Drawbacks: Current slowdowns are primarily restricted to construction trenches and areas where vehicles cross over to reach destinations. Commuters also note increased travel distances, higher fuel consumption, and steeper auto-rickshaw fares.
• Pending Litigation: Construction commenced while a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) regarding the fixation of the park’s Eco Sensitive Zone remains pending before the Supreme Court.
• Calls to Rethink Construction: Environmentalists and civil society members, including Uday Krishna Peddireddi of the Vata Foundation and bird enthusiast Aasheesh Pittie, have urged the government to shelve the flyover plans, pointing out that reorienting traffic has achieved congestion relief without major structural spending.

Why This Matters

The smooth operation of the one-way route has highlighted alternative traffic management options that do not rely on high-capital infrastructure projects. The success of simple traffic rerouting has led residents, activists, and even on-duty traffic personnel to ask whether spending over ₹1,000 crore on multi-level flyovers and underpasses is essential. Proponents of the one-way system argue that retaining the current flow permanently and filling in construction trenches would instantly add lane capacity while preserving surrounding green cover and saving public funds.

What to Watch Next

Public attention remains focused on whether civic authorities will treat the one-way system as a permanent solution or continue with the complete execution of the H-CITI grade separators. Observers are also monitoring proceedings in the Supreme Court regarding the Eco Sensitive Zone around KBR National Park, which could directly impact ongoing construction works.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was the one-way system around KBR Park introduced?

The one-way flow was enforced by traffic police to manage vehicular movement while roads were dug up for grade separator works under the H-CITI project.

What are the reported downsides of the one-way system?

While travel time has decreased, the unidirectional route requires vehicles to travel longer distances, resulting in higher fuel usage and increased fares for auto-rickshaw passengers.

What is the status of the H-CITI project at the site?

Preliminary groundwork has begun, with trenches excavated along the middle of the road corridor, even as legal challenges regarding the park’s Eco Sensitive Zone remain before the Supreme Court.

Source: Based on reporting by The Hindu.