Hyderabad: Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) President A. Revanth Reddy has appealed to Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari to designate the southern portion of the Regional Ring Road (RRR) around Hyderabad as a national highway. In a letter addressed to the Union Minister, Revanth Reddy emphasized the importance of this strategic road for the development of the region and the need to expedite its completion.
The RRR is a proposed 340-kilometer ring road project aimed at decongesting traffic in Hyderabad and fostering development in surrounding districts. While the northern part of the RRR has already been declared a national highway, the southern section, covering areas such as Narsapur, Chevella, Shadnagar, and Kandukur, has not received similar recognition. This disparity, Reddy argues, could hinder balanced development and economic growth in the region.
Key Points Highlighted by Revanth Reddy
- Strategic Importance: The southern part of the RRR connects several key districts, including Rangareddy, Mahabubnagar, and Nalgonda, which are hubs of economic activity. Declaring this stretch as a national highway would attract more investment and improve connectivity.
- Balanced Development: Reddy stressed that the lack of national highway status for the southern portion could lead to uneven growth in the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region, disadvantaging areas in the southern and western zones.
- Economic Growth: The proposed southern corridor would ease traffic on existing roads, facilitate faster movement of goods and people, and spur economic growth by connecting industrial and agricultural zones to markets.
- Environmental Benefits: Enhanced infrastructure in the southern region would help reduce vehicular congestion and pollution in the city center, promoting a more sustainable urban environment.
Political Undertones
Reddy’s appeal comes against the backdrop of intense political competition in Telangana, where infrastructure development has become a key issue ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. The Congress leader criticized the state government for delays in the RRR project and urged the Union government to intervene to accelerate progress.
Response from Stakeholders
While the Union Ministry has yet to respond to Reddy’s request, the proposal has garnered attention from local leaders and civic organizations. Many have echoed the sentiment that recognizing the southern RRR as a national highway would be a game-changer for regional development.
Revanth Reddy concluded his letter by urging the Union Minister to prioritize this matter and ensure equitable development in Telangana. As the state gears up for elections, the issue of infrastructure development, particularly the RRR, is likely to remain in the spotlight.