Hyderabad’s Paradise-Shamirpet elevated corridor hopes to divert long-distance traffic off local roads

For 28-year-old Y. Bharat, commuting home from Begumpet to Kowkur means negotiating one congested junction after another. The snarl stretches through Paradise, Karkhana, Trimulghera, Alwala and Hakimpet and the ride gets easier only after the turn to Kowkur.

It is this long stop-and-go route that the proposed elevated corridor from Paradise Junction to the Outer Ring Road (ORR) at Shamirpet is expected to transform, offering through traffic a route over some of the busiest stretches of north Hyderabad and Secunderabad.

A corridor of 18.1 km length with several entrance and exit ramps

The 18.1 km corridor along Rajiv Rahadari (SH-1) is planned with multiple entry and exit ramps, which will enable motorists traveling between the city and areas including Alwal, Bolarum, Kowkur, Thumkunta and Shamirpet to bypass several junctions along the existing surface road.

The road from the north towards the center of Hyderabad

For those living further north, the difference can be substantial. Currently, commuters from Shamirpet and Thumkunta heading towards central Hyderabad have to pass through Hakimpet, Bolarum, Alwal, Trimulghery, Karkhana and Patna before reaching Paradise. Once completed, the elevated corridor is expected to separate a significant portion of this traffic from vehicles on shorter local roads.

Regular commuters who have observed the traffic situation worsen

“The snarl continues almost all the way to Hakimpet. Four years ago, it (commuting) took me 35-40 minutes. Now it takes more than an hour! Only after turning right towards Kowkur does the traffic ease,” said Mr Bharat, who works in Begumpet. He hopes the corridor will significantly reduce the time he spends walking the stretch each day.

Tito George (32), a resident of Janapriya Homes in Bolarum, has watched the situation deteriorate over the past five years. “Traffic has only gotten worse in the last five years. We hope the elevated corridor will finally bring relief,” he said.

For residents of neighborhoods along the route, the expected benefit does not necessarily mean traveling all the way to Shamirpet. Anibrith Bhattacharjee of Lothkunta in Alwal hopes that moving long-distance traffic to the elevated road will free up the surface-level carriageway for people making shorter journeys within the neighbourhood.

However, the project comes with significant disruption before the relief comes.

Demolition

Road widening and preparatory works have already transformed Lothkunta and Shamirpet sections where shops, hospitals and other facilities have been demolished. The project will also require the demolition of Trimulgherry RTO office and Marredpally Traffic Police Station among other facilities.

For T. Sruthi, who is a resident of Karkhana – one of the busiest places on the route – the immediate question is how commuters will negotiate the construction phase. There is already a relatively limited stretch of traffic here, and construction activity and detours could make daily travel difficult until the corridor is up and running.

Similar concerns were raised among Hyderabad residents who discussed the project on social media. While some have described the existing route as a traffic nightmare and welcomed infrastructure that could provide a faster connection to the ORR, others have questioned whether adding more road capacity alone will provide lasting relief from congestion and are arguing for stronger public transport alongside road infrastructure.

Once operational, however, the most visible change for motorists could be the ability to travel significant distances without descending into all the major intersections below. An official from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) said the project is estimated to be completed by early 2028. Meanwhile, local motorists could benefit from fewer long-distance vehicles competing for space on the surface road.

Published – 21 Sep 2026 13:43 IST