HYDERABAD: The 168-km-long Outer Ring Road (ORR) is all set for a facelift. As part of an exclusive road safety plan being executed by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), the ORR will soon be fitted with CCTV cameras and a host of other amenities — developed by the Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) — like multi-fuel stations (CNG and battery charging apart from regular fuel stations), parking facilities, washrooms, food courts, local handicrafts outlet, among others. These facilities will dot the 19 interchanges (road junctions) along the stretch.
“Tenders have been floated and we expect the work to start soon,” said a senior official of HMDA. In 2020, as many as 34 fatal accidents were recorded along the ORR. According to commuters.
“HMDA along with the roads and buildings department and police are working on measures that need to be taken to ensure safety of commuters. An app to store all the date pertaining to accidents will also be developed,” the official said adding,
“Our focus is on fencing, crossings, signages, illumination. These are immediate measures that will be taken up.” While these are short-term goals, officials said that in the long-run they will set up trauma centres and also train volunteers for Active Bleeding Control (ABC) in case of accidents along the ORR.
Speaking about the safety plan, HMDA officials said that speed guns, enforcement measures and an unified ambulance network will also be included in the project apart from beautification of junctions and interchanges at multiple locations. As on date, theme based development of junction at ORR near Gachibowli and Narsingi have been completed.
Speaking about the wayside amenities, officials said that they will first come up in Shameerpet, Patancheruvu, Narsingi, Medchal, Ghatkesar, Pedda Amberpet and Bongulur.