SCB alternative roads: Two roads near AOC Circle in Secunderabad Cantonment fast-tracked

Two long-awaited alternative roads near AOC Circle in Secunderabad Cantonment are now on the fast track, with tenders nearing finalisation. The Rs. 1,000 crore project aims to ease commuter inconvenience caused by defence road closures and will be completed in two years

Hyderabad: A proposal to construct two alternative roads at the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) Circle, benefitting thousands of commuters in the north-eastern parts of Secunderabad, has entered the fast-track mode, with the tender process now in its final stage.

These roads were initially proposed in 2014 during the BRS government’s tenure after local defence authorities frequently closed Allahabad Gate and Wellington Road, citing security concerns over their installations at AOC Circle. These closures caused major inconvenience to daily commuters.

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), in coordination with defence officials, has completed a joint survey to acquire defence land for the proposed routes—Safilguda Level Crossing to Entrenchment Road, and Safilguda Level Crossing to R K Puram Road Over Bridge (RoB). The tender finalisation is currently underway.

“These two alternative roads will be constructed without impacting the defence establishments at AOC Circle. For the 2.91-km road from Safilguda Level Crossing to Entrenchment Road, 24 acres of defence land need to be acquired, and an additional 10 acres for the road to RK Puram RoB. The total project cost is estimated at Rs. 1,000 crore,” GHMC engineering wing sources told Telangana Today.

The defence authorities have proposed two options for the land transfer. “One is the Equal Value Infrastructure (EVI) model, under which the state must build infrastructure of equivalent value for the army. The other is the Equivalent Value of Land (EVL) model, where the state allots land of matching value to the defence,” a GHMC official explained.

The state government is currently identifying suitable land parcels to fulfil the EVL requirement, sources said. Once the tendering and land exchange processes are completed, the project is expected to be completed within two years. Upon completion, defence authorities may choose to close the existing roads permanently or temporarily, depending on security needs.

Malkajgiri BRS MLA Marri Rajashekar Reddy, who has been pursuing the project, said, “It is the dream of three lakh commuters to have these alternative roads.”