The LB Nagar elevated corridor has finally received the Centre’s approval, ending years of waiting for Hyderabad’s eastern suburbs. Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari approved the LB Nagar–Hayathnagar double-decker elevated corridor during a meeting with Telangana ministers in New Delhi on October 13, 2026, along with a package of highway, bridge and ropeway projects for the state.
Telangana Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Tourism Minister Jupally Krishna Rao met Gadkari on Tuesday to push long-pending infrastructure proposals. The meeting yielded clearances on multiple fronts, including a firm start date for the Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway expansion and a foundation-stone nod for an iconic cable-stayed bridge over the Krishna river.
What Was Approved in the Delhi Meeting
According to The New Indian Express, Gadkari approved the LB Nagar–Hayathnagar double-decker elevated corridor for inclusion in the annual plan. He also assured the state that expansion of National Highway 65 connecting Hyderabad, Vijayawada and Machilipatnam would begin in January 2027, with tendering completed by November 2026.
The Hindu reported that Gadkari additionally approved five ropeway projects under the Centre’s Parvatmala scheme, three railway overbridges under the Setu Bandhan scheme, and the foundation-stone laying for a cable-stayed bridge across the Krishna river at Somasila on NH-167K. He directed officials to prepare a fresh Detailed Project Report (DPR) for an elevated corridor on the Hyderabad–Srisailam highway (NH-765).
LB Nagar Elevated Corridor: Key Details
The proposed double-decker elevated corridor spans approximately 6 km from LB Nagar to Hayathnagar, one of the most congested stretches in eastern Hyderabad. Komatireddy told Gadkari that the route and its surrounding areas serve more than one million people living in around 54 colonies, including employees, students and businesspeople who use the stretch daily.
The corridor is expected to ease traffic congestion, improve road safety and cut travel time on a stretch notorious for heavy congestion and frequent accidents. The state government had earlier proposed aligning the corridor with the Metro Rail Phase II extension to Hayathnagar. The Centre had already approved Rs 545 crore for developing the LB Nagar–Malkapur section of NH-65 into a six-lane (6+2) highway with service roads, and the elevated corridor adds a second tier of relief on top of that plan.
NH-65 Hyderabad–Vijayawada–Machilipatnam Expansion Timeline
The clearest timeline to emerge from the meeting concerns NH-65, the key inter-state artery linking Hyderabad with Vijayawada and Machilipatnam. Gadkari assured Komatireddy that the expansion work would begin in January 2027, with the tendering process scheduled for completion in November 2026.
Traffic on this corridor has already exceeded 1.20 lakh Passenger Car Units, and the stretch has multiple accident blackspots. Telangana has sought its expansion to a six-lane (6+2) highway to handle growing traffic demand and improve road safety. For daily commuters and freight operators moving between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, the expansion promises faster and safer journeys on one of South India’s busiest routes.
Cable-Stayed Bridge, Ropeways and Other Approvals
The foundation-stone laying for an iconic cable-stayed bridge across the Krishna river at Somasila (NH-167K) got Gadkari’s approval. The bridge is expected to improve connectivity between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh while boosting regional trade and tourism. On ropeways, Telangana secured approval for five projects under the Parvatmala scheme at a combined estimated cost of around Rs 1,230 crore, aimed at improving access to tourism and spiritual destinations with eco-friendly transport.
Gadkari also responded positively to the Hyderabad–Amaravati greenfield highway proposal and issued instructions to examine the state’s request for Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF) allocations for 34 works. The meeting further discussed upgrading several state highways into national highways, including the Pullur–Alampur–Jatrapole–Pentlavelli–Kollapur–Lingala–Achampet–Dindi–Devarakonda–Mallepally–Nalgonda route. Separately, Gadkari accepted an invitation to attend the 73rd Indian Road Congress in Hyderabad from November 19–22.
What It Means for Hyderabad Commuters
For residents of eastern Hyderabad, the approvals address the two biggest daily pain points: the choked LB Nagar–Hayathnagar stretch and the accident-prone Vijayawada highway. A double-decker elevated corridor means through-traffic can bypass local congestion entirely, while the NH-65 six-laning tackles the inter-city bottleneck. Together with the Metro Phase II extension plans, the corridor could reshape commuting patterns across 54 colonies that house over a million people.
The timelines matter most now. With NH-65 tendering due by November 2026 and construction from January 2027, commuters should see visible activity within months rather than years. The LB Nagar corridor, included in the annual plan, will move to detailed execution stages next. As with other large government-backed infrastructure decisions, the real test will be how quickly approvals convert into on-ground work — and whether the state can align the corridor with metro expansion to maximise the benefit. For more on how central schemes reach citizens, see our explainer on Ayushman Bharat eligibility and benefits.
Frequently Asked Questions
When will the NH-65 Hyderabad–Vijayawada expansion start?
Nitin Gadkari assured Telangana that expansion of NH-65 (Hyderabad–Vijayawada–Machilipatnam) will begin in January 2027, with the tendering process scheduled for completion in November 2026. Traffic on the corridor has already crossed 1.20 lakh Passenger Car Units.
Where will the five ropeways be built?
The Centre approved five ropeway projects under the Parvatmala scheme for Telangana at a combined estimated cost of around Rs 1,230 crore. They are intended to improve access to tourism and spiritual destinations in the state through eco-friendly transport. Exact locations will be finalised in the project reports.
What is the cable-stayed bridge project at Somasila?
Gadkari approved the foundation-stone laying for an iconic cable-stayed bridge across the Krishna river at Somasila on NH-167K. It is expected to improve connectivity between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and boost regional trade and tourism.
What is the status of the Hyderabad–Srisailam elevated corridor?
Gadkari directed officials to prepare a fresh Detailed Project Report (DPR) for an elevated corridor on the Hyderabad–Srisailam highway (NH-765), which passes through forest stretches. It is at the planning stage, not yet approved for construction.
Did the meeting approve anything else?
Yes. Three railway overbridges were approved under the Setu Bandhan scheme, Gadkari responded positively to the Hyderabad–Amaravati greenfield highway proposal, and he ordered officials to examine Telangana's request for CRIF funds for 34 road works. He also accepted an invitation to the 73rd Indian Road Congress in Hyderabad from November 19–22.
