Hyderabad: The Union government gave in-principle approval to widen the Hyderabad–Srisailam highway (NH-765) by building a four-lane elevated corridor through the Amrabad Tiger Reserve.
The Telangana government recently identified several congested national highways and submitted proposals to the Centre for expansion. Among them, the Hyderabad–Srisailam highway had stalled for years because authorities could not secure environmental clearances. However, the latest approval cleared the key hurdle.
Hyderabad–Srisailam highway expansion clears key hurdle
Authorities prepared plans to construct the corridor from Brahmanapally near Achampet to Srisailam with an estimated cost of ₹7,668 crore. In detail, engineers designed a 45.19 km elevated stretch and a 9.72 km at-grade road. Moreover, they estimated land acquisition at 148 hectares, including 129 hectares of forest land.
Project planners divided the corridor into 30-foot sections and included a 300-meter viaduct to facilitate wildlife movement. In addition, they proposed a suspension bridge across the Krishna River near Dummalapenta–Srisailam. Officials said the corridor would therefore cut travel time between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh by 45 minutes.
Motorists currently struggle with narrow ghat roads that allow only two to three vehicles at a time. As a result, traffic piles up whenever authorities open the Srisailam project gates. Engineers anticipate that the new corridor will alleviate congestion, enhance safety, and protect wildlife from road accidents.
The government also projected major tourism benefits. Consequently, visitors will gain smoother access to the Srisailam dam, the pilgrimage centre, the Farahabad viewpoint, and the tiger safari. Furthermore, the proposed suspension bridge across the Krishna will add an iconic attraction.
The corridor covers 62.5 km, of which 58.8 km passes through the tiger reserve limits. Initially, authorities studied an underground alignment to shorten the distance by 12 km. Although that option promised a straighter route, planners finally chose the elevated design as more feasible.
