Hyderabad Completes Key Survey for Safilguda–RK Puram Alternative Roads
A long-pending mobility project in Secunderabad moved a step closer to execution this week after civic and Defence authorities completed a joint survey of land required for two alternative road links around the congested AoC Circle. The progress marks a crucial milestone for neighbourhoods that have faced years of restricted road access, unpredictable closures, and limited connectivity in the north-eastern corridor of the city.
The Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) confirmed that officials from multiple Defence and civic agencies jointly inspected the stretches where new links are proposed between Safilguda Level Crossing, Entrenchment Road, and the RK Puram Road-over-Bridge. The exercise, pending for several years, now sets the stage for formal land transfer approvals—an essential step before construction can begin. At the heart of the plan is the acquisition of nearly 42 acres of Defence land. This includes close to 24 acres for a six-lane, 2.9-km corridor connecting Safilguda Level Crossing to Entrenchment Road, and another 10 acres for a four-lane, 2-km route linking Safilguda to the RK Puram RoB. Together, these stretches are expected to support more than four lakh residents across dense civilian pockets such as Safilguda, Malkajgiri, Sainikpuri, Sainathpuram, ECIL, Kapra, Anand Bagh, and surrounding neighbourhoods.
The push for alternative roads dates back to 2017, after repeated closures of key internal roads near the Army Ordnance Corps citing security concerns. Sudden blockages of Gough Road, Allahabad Gate, and Wellington Road triggered years of frustration for daily commuters and resident welfare groups, forcing the government to explore parallel corridors that do not depend on restricted Defence routes. The State has already approved the transfer of 153 acres of government land at Shamirpet’s Firing Range to facilitate the Defence exchange. The project, originally under the GHMC and later moved to the newly formed MMC, falls within the H-CITI programme aimed at strengthening future-ready urban infrastructure. With an estimated investment approaching ₹1,000 crore, the two corridors are among the largest urban mobility interventions planned for Secunderabad.
Officials involved in the coordination expect final land transfer orders in early June, followed by groundwork likely beginning later in the month or after the monsoon. For urban planners, the road links represent more than congestion relief—they signal a shift toward decentralised, climate-resilient mobility networks that reduce dependence on vulnerable choke points. As Secunderabad continues to urbanise rapidly, the absence of alternative corridors has deepened traffic stress, lengthened commute times, and left civilian neighbourhoods exposed to sudden closures. The upcoming links are expected to create continuous east-west movement without touching restricted Defence zones, help distribute traffic loads more evenly, and stabilise mobility for thousands who rely on narrow, ageing streets. With several major AoC Circle roads still facing the possibility of future closures, the alternative routes are considered essential for long-term resilience in the region’s transport grid. If approvals arrive on schedule, Secunderabad could finally see progress on a project that residents have demanded for nearly a decade—one that aligns with the broader vision of building equitable, future-ready mobility networks for Hyderabad’s expanding metropolitan region.
