Published & Updated as on - 2010-08-06

Even as Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is struggling to complete the 162-km Outer Ring Road (ORR) by 2012, it has drawn up another ambitious plan to build a Peripheral Ring Road (PRR) in the authorities extended area.

The urban development authority has incorporated Peripheral Ring Road covering 250 kms in the surrounding areas in the recently released draft master plan.

The 45-metre (about 200 feet) road would connect areas like Chevella, Sankarpally, Sangareddy, Toopran, Agapally, Bibinagar, Shadnagar and Choutuppal in Ranga Reddy, Medak, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts. As per the draft plan, the HMDA has identified 25 urban pockets with a population of up to 2.5 lakh and urban centres, where settlements have come up and have potential to grow.

HMDA officials said PRR would have connectivity to urban pockets and urban centres which are growing in peripheral areas. Arterial roads have been proposed in the master plan to increase connectivity between the extended area and core Hyderabad Urban Development Area (Huda).If the centres are well connected with roads, railways and provided amenities, burden on the developed areas would come down.

PRR is planned in view of future needs and growth. It will be taken up after completion of ORR and will be targeted for the next 10 years, HMDA member (planning),A V Bhide, told TOI. Officials said the population under HMDA would be 1.8 crore by 2031 and so the need for creation of multiple nuclei centres. The newly-included areas of HMDA would have a population of around 47 lakh by 2031 and there is a need for well-connected road network.

Giving emphasis in the draft master plan for transportation and road network, the HMDA has proposed 60metre, 45 metre and 18 metre wide roads at growth pocket level apart from MMTS and railway terminals.

HMDAs extended area is about 4,920 sq kms, comprising 635 settlements, including 26 uninhabited villages and seven urban settlements.

Source: exclventures 02/08/2010