Panel to iron out ORR alignment issue

The Andhra Pradesh government has constituted a committee under the chairmanship of secretary, municipal administration and urban development, to sort out issues relating to the shifting of the proposed alignment of the Outer Ring Road (ORR).

The move comes in the wake of various court litigations and requests for alterations in the alignment, which is preventing the authorities from finalising the project.

As per the orders issued by K V Rao, principal secretary to the government, the committee would submit its report in 30 days, and suggest a final alignment to the board of Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (Huda) for approval.

The members of the committee include Huda vice-chairman, Incap vice-chairman and managing director, and collectors of Ranga Reddy and Medak districts. The project director and special collector of ORR will act as the member conveners.

The total length of the second ring road is about 159 km. It will link Gachibowli and Shamshabad International Airport (22 km) in the first phase. The alignment in the first phase has been shifted 500 metres away from the Himayatsagar bund and 300 metres away from the national forest.

The film producers' guild has sought a change in the proposed alignment as it is passing through their land.

The road is also passing through the firing range of the artillery centre. Similarly, in phase-II, covering 137 km, the proposed alignment is passing through the catchment area of the Osman Sagar and in some areas of institutional buildings, religious places, habitations and irrigation sources.

The shifting of the alignment is being worked out to avoid these problems, the order said. This apart, the government has received representations from villagers of Shamirpet seeking modifications.

The authorities recently received an environmental clearance for the phase-1 of the project. The total project cost is estimated to be around Rs 6,000 crore.