Shorter travel, more routes: Telangana rolls out massive Rs 70,000 crore road development plan

Hyderabad: Telangana is set for a massive infrastructure push with the government unveiling a Rs 70,000 crore road development plan aimed at transforming connectivity and accelerating economic growth over the next three years.

Roads and Buildings (R&B) Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy informed the Assembly that the ‘ambitious’ roadmap is designed to reduce travel time, attract investments and improve access across urban and rural regions.

Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway to cut travel time

A key highlight of the plan is the expansion of the Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway at an estimated cost of Rs 10,410 crore. The project will upgrade the existing stretch into a six-lane main carriageway with two-lane service roads.

The Detailed Project Report (DPR) is expected by early May, after which tenders will be invited. Once completed, travel time between the two cities is likely to drop to under three hours.

Greenfield corridor to boost trade

The government is also planning a greenfield highway connecting Bharat Future City to Machilipatnam port via Amaravati. This corridor is expected to strengthen trade links and provide seamless connectivity between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh’s coastal belt.

Mannanur–Srisailam elevated corridor

In a major boost to pilgrimage and tourism infrastructure, a 52-km elevated corridor from Mannanur to Srisailam is being planned at a cost of ₹7,600 crore.

The project will pass through tiger reserve forest areas and is expected to be one of the longest of its kind in the country. The state has already approached the Union government for the necessary clearances.

Statewide road network expansion

The minister said the government is focusing on strengthening a total road network of 34,062 km. This includes 29,079 km under the R&B department and 4,983 km of national highways.

Urban and industrial road expansion is being prioritised to attract global investments and improve logistics.

Rural connectivity gets a boost

The government said it is focused on improving road infrastructure in rural areas to benefit farmers, students and patients. This is done by ensuring better market access, educational opportunities and timely healthcare services.

The initiative is also aimed at creating employment opportunities for youth.

Rs 7,590 crore works already taken up

Since coming to power, the government said it has undertaken road works worth Rs 7,590 crore, covering 1,835 km, including ghat roads, iconic structures and 76 major bridges.

Additionally, projects worth Rs 13,051 crore are currently in progress across the state.

‘Clearing backlog of previous government’

Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy said the previous government had left 4,825 km of road works incomplete, along with pending dues of Rs 630 crore. “The present government has taken up the responsibility of completing these projects in the public interest,” he said.

Loan restructuring to ease burden

To reduce financial strain, the government has restructured a Rs 4,200 crore high-interest loan.

Of this, Rs 1,963.25 crore has already been repaid, while the remaining Rs 2,200 crore has been shifted to HUDCO at a lower interest rate of 8.60 per cent.

HAM model for faster development

The state is also developing 12,000 km of roads under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).

In the first phase, tenders have been invited for 441 roads spanning 6,092 km across 34 packages, with an estimated cost of Rs 13,006.27 crore. Technical bid evaluations are currently underway.

Focus on safety and sustainability

The minister emphasised that initiatives like ‘Arrive Alive’ underline the State government’s commitment to road safety. He added that infrastructure development is being carried out with a focus on environmental protection while ensuring faster and safer travel for the public.