Telangana government faces citizens’ ire over Hyderabad’s KBR flyover fiasco

Telangana government has drawn severe criticism from citizens after its volte-face with regard to road infrastructure in the vicinity of the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park at the centre of Hyderabad.

Reversing its project for the construction of seven flyovers and seven underpasses around the park, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has now approved one continuous unified elevated corridor from Jubilee Hills Checkpost to NFCL Junction.

The construction has been divided into two packages — from Jubilee Hills Check Post to Banjara Hills Road No.2, and from there to Muffakhkam Jah College featuring a dedicated connecting ramp to Banjara Hills Road No.1.

New tenders will not be called despite the design change, as the previous contractor had already carried out 50% of the work on the earlier design, senior officials from GHMC said.

The sanctioned cost for the project also remains unchanged at ₹1,090 crore, but as per official claims, the design change resulted in savings of ₹1,200 crore — ₹800 crore by drastically reducing the need to acquire high-value private land and ₹400 crore in construction cost.

An aerial view of the ongoing flyover works at Jubilee Hills Check Post in Hyderabad on Monday. Vehicular traffic is being regulated as one-way to ensure smooth movement around the construction zone, with barricades installed for safety.
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

The project design was changed after witnessing how one-way traffic flow reduced congestion on the stretch, GHMC Commissioner R.V.Karnan said, speaking to media after his inspection of the site on Monday.

Post approval of the design change by the GHMC Standing Committee, social media was abuzz with severe backlash against the casual approach of the government towards the project which has led to wastage of precious resources.

“How can an infra proposal change so radically from ring flyovers to a straight one? That too in a month? Were any traffic studies conducted or is it a compensatory project for the contractor after the original one was shelved,” Shankar Narayan, a city-based architect, asked on ‘X’.

“I wish there was some shame left in these bureaucrats and engineers. Investing in major infra requires a study; an assessment of alternatives, examination of consequences, a design, and a chance for the public to examine. Was any of it done? And how did you arrive at the price?” Prashanth Bachu, a strong advocate for sustainable transport, fumed.

“And… how much did you say was already spent on the KBR blunder? Oh… you didnt say anything about that. Why no details on that wastage? Since it’s a new design… are tenderes being refloated?” questioned Uday Krishna from Vata Foundation.

Save KBR citizens’ group, which had fought a bitter battle with the State government on and off the roads against the construction of flyovers, questioned the absence of a Detailed Project Report for the new project, and reminded of the damage done by felling age-old trees.

“If, like the govt claims, H-CITI project was designed after extensive traffic studies, why has the project been abandoned and a new one proposed? Who will be held accountable for money already spent on excavation? Who takes responsibility for trees cut down and rocks destroyed?” posted Natasha Ramarathnam, a green activist.

GHMC officials blame the traffic cops for the fiasco, who reportedly delayed the one-way experiment by at least six months, and agreed only when it was made clear that works would not go ahead if one-way is not in place.

“The delay cost us a lot. Our hands are tied now, because if we scrap the contract, it will result in legal problems,” said an official.

GHMC Commissioner R.V. Karnan, along with senior officials, conducting a field inspection of the ongoing flyover works at Jubilee Hills check post in Hyderabad and spoke to media on Monday (October 5, 2026)
| Video Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL