One-way traffic plan for RK Puram as twin bridge takes shape

Responding to a report carried by The Hinduon Monday, June 23, the Executive Engineer clarified that the decades-old Ramakrishna Puram (RK Puram) Railway Over Bridge (ROB), a critical link between Trimulgherry and key eastern suburbs like AS Rao Nagar and ECIL, is set for a significant upgrade and expansion as urban traffic pressure continues to mount.

“The government of Telangana has granted administrative sanction for the project. ₹210 crore has been earmarked for the construction of the new ROB and another ₹35 crore for the Railway Under Bridge (RUB),” informed the Executive Engineer of the GHMC’s North Zone.

Built over twenty years ago, the existing two-lane bidirectional bridge has long served as a lifeline for commuters between Secunderabad and the city’s expanding eastern corridor. However, with rapid urbanisation and a sharp spike in vehicular volume, the structure is now struggling to keep pace, especially during peak hours.

The maintenance of the flyover has been under the watch of the GHMC’s Engineering section. To address its ageing infrastructure, tenders were recently invited for a restoration project that includes replacement of the wearing coat, expansion joints, and repairs to the crash barriers. GHMC officials said the work will commence soon after finalisation of the executing agency.

A statement from the GHMC said that a broader solution is also in the pipeline. “Traffic studies have prompted the decision to construct a new three-lane unidirectional ROB parallel to the existing structure. This will be complemented by a parallel RUB to further ease the load and improve flow in the corridor,” the statement mentioned.

Joint inspections have been carried out with railway officials, and the General Arrangement Drawings (GADs) for both structures have been submitted. The railways, in turn, have sought centage charges of ₹41.52 lakh for the ROB and ₹66.70 lakh for the RUB. Payment processing is underway, after which tenders will be floated post railway approval of the GADs.

“Once completed, the existing bridge will be converted to a unidirectional structure, easing congestion and enhancing overall traffic management in the area,” the executive engineer stated.