Rajiv Rahadari Property Owners protest proposed 200-foot road widening, seek Harish Rao’s support
HYDERABAD: Hundreds of commercial and residential property owners along State Highway 1 (SH1) from Gymkhana Grounds to Thumkunta urge Telangana MLA T. Harish Rao to cap the proposed road width for the upcoming elevated corridor at 150 feet, instead of the government’s planned 200 feet.
In a formal letter dated May 25, 2026, the Rajiv Rahadari Property Owner’s Joint Action Committee (JAC), led by Chairman Telukunta Satish Gupta, said they are deeply troubled by the proposed expansion and warn it will demolish thousands of properties built 10 to 50 years ago. They say the current road is 50 to 80 feet wide, and jumping to 200 feet is unnecessary and could hurt the community.
Furthermore, the JAC wrote that hospitals, heritage temples, retail shops, restaurants, and grocery stores are vital to the local economy. These businesses employ thousands and serve many Secunderabad Cantonment residents. The association also noted that many property owners are senior citizens who depend on rental income from buildings built with their life savings.
In addition, the letter cites technical analysis and argues that even with a six-lane expressway flyover and eight ground-level lanes (four up, four down), builders need only three more meters for pillars. This brings the total width needed to about 34 meters (112 feet), including footpaths and drains.
Moreover, the JAC said the government should widen the road uniformly to 120-150 feet. They added that busier Hyderabad roads like Jubilee Hills Road No. 36 and Banjara Hills Road No. 1 manage well with just 100-foot widths.
Similarly, the association proposed making the road 200 feet wide beyond Tirumalherry cross roads, since most of that area is defense land. But before that junction, where traffic from A.S. Rao Nagar and Kompally merges, they want the width capped at 150 feet.
On top of that, the JAC’s traffic analysis shows SH1 now handles two lanes per side smoothly, except for peak hours. Congestion happens mainly because of traffic signals at Secunderabad Club’s North/West gates and Trimulgherry Cross Roads.
The letter says the project plans seven lanes per side, which is far more than needed. The JAC urges the government to focus on improving junctions, clearing bottlenecks, and making the road width uniform, not widening it unnecessarily.
Additionally, the association also demanded that the government pay the current market value (about Rs 2.5 lakh per unit) for any land acquired, instead of using the outdated card value. The JAC urged Harish Rao, MLA of Siddipet, to convey their concerns to higher authorities and ensure a comprehensive review.
