Inner ring road on the fast track

Warangal: The long-awaited inner ring road (IRR) proposal that has been in cold storage for over a decade is finally to see the light of the day. The man instrumental behind putting the Rs 150 crore project on fast track is the Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation (GWMC) Commissioner VP Gautham, who is also the Vice-Chairman of the KUDA.

It may be recalled that the 13-kilometer IRR, proposed by the Kakatiya Urban Development Authority (KUDA) way back in 2007 to ease the traffic congestion in the tri-cities of Warangal-Hanamkonda-Kazipet, ran into trouble due to land acquisition and other problems.

Although the authorities claim that there is no constraint of funds, the major hurdle before them is land acquisition. It’s estimated that authorities need to acquire around 200 acres for the construction of IRR. In fact, the government earmarked Rs 20 crore for land acquisition in 2007, despite this, the work on IRR never got off the blocks.

Now the authorities, who got a go ahead from the government, have decided to take up the construction of IRR in two phases, 6 kilometers initially and rest later. The width of the proposed IRR is 200 feet. According to officials, land survey is going on for the acquisition and it is likely to take a shape in a month.

Under the first phase, the 6-km IRR that begins at Naidu Petrol Bunk (Khammam road) will be aligned to ORR at Arepally village via Enumamula Agriculture Market Yard.

The IRR is expected to ease movement between tri-cities using predominantly existing alignments - outer ring road (ORR) and regional ring road (ORR) - connecting the proposed growth centres under the Master Plan-2041. The officials say that the inter-connectivity of the IRR, ORR and RRR could well serve the needs of the people for another three decades.

Speaking to The Hans India, KUDA Vice-Chairman VP Gautham said: “The State government has sanctioned Rs 50 crore for the construction of IRR. Land acquisition process has already initiated following the directions of Warangal Urban District Collector Prashanth Jeevan Patil.

“We have speeded up the survey. The Roads and Buildings Department has already floated tenders and the bids will be opened in about a week. Possibly, the work on IRR will be grounded in a month.” He expressed confidence that first phase of IRR will be a reality in about a year.

The proximity between Hyderabad and Warangal creates an urban growth axis complementing economic corridor cenceptualised by the Government of Telangana, Forum for Better Warangal President Pulluru Sudhakar said.

The multi-sector logistics zone, manufacturing cluster and industrial park; Data centre support for Hyderabad; Education and training hub for manufacturing are some of key economic components envisaged to form part of the overall development of Warangal if IRR, ORR and RRR are commissioned as per the plan of the government, he added.