HYDERABAD : The Government has constituted a five-member committee to look into all aspects before taking the final decision on alignment change for the second phase of the Outer Ring Road project.

Following representations by those who are bound to lose their houses, industrial units, rice mills and other structures, a three-member committee, comprising HUDA Chairman, Vice-Chairman and ORR Project Director, conducted a physical verification a few months ago at Hayathnagar, Turka Yamjal, Ghatkesar and Tukkuguda and submitted a report to the Government.

Committee members

However, the Government wanted Secretary, Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Managing Director, Infrastructure Corporation of AP and Ranga Reddy Collector to be part of the committee as the project pass through surrounding municipalities and greater Hyderabad Metropolitan area. The committee will hold consultations with the HUDA board and revalidate recommendations of the three-member committee.

ORR Project Director Piyush Kumar has said the committee will submit its report by this month-end. "There is a sense of urgency as the Government is keen on closing the alignment issue," says the official.

HUDA Chairman D. Sudheer Reddy has said once the committee submits its report, the HUDA board will discuss it threadbare and give its view to the Government.

Official's contention

Decision on alignment change for the second phase requires careful consideration as shifting it too far from the proposed 159km-long alignment will defeat the purpose of decongesting the city roads as people may not like to take the ORR, says Mr. Reddy.

The 22km-first phase alignment was also shifted as per Pollution Control Board directives to be away from catchments of Osmansagar and Himayatsagar and its Detailed Project Report was ready. Discussions on financial tie-up on a Government-to-Government basis are in an advanced stage. Apart from Dubai, Malaysia and Singapore also evinced interest and their teams will come for a detailed study shortly, says Mr. Kumar. Work on the first phase is expected to begin by year-end once the financial tie-up is decided.

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