Green activists oppose GHMC infra plan around KBR Park

Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), under the Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure (HCITI) programme has announced a significant infrastructure development around the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park (KBR) to enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion.
The project, with a sanctioned budget of Rs 826 crore, includes the construction of grade separators across six major junctions surrounding KBR Park, which was opposed by environmentalists. They said that with this project one should have the slogans ready as “RIP KBR Park”.
With years long fight for saving KBR Park from various violations, Uday Krishna Peddireddi, co-founder of Vata Foundation shared, “There should be a practical way for a period such as trying for one way route near KBR Park if one is talking about traffic jams. Then there are many violations we have fought for, such as sewage flow and an alternate solution has been provided but with the project it will be damaged again.”
KBR Park is the centrally attractive tourist location of Hyderabad and any infrastructure developed around it will disturb the flora and, fauna, he added.
According to the GHMC, these developments aim to create a seamless traffic experience, ensuring a conflict-free flow by eliminating signals and incorporating rainwater retention structures to prevent bottlenecks during monsoons. This initiative is set to transform the core of Hyderabad’s road network, connecting key areas like Jubilee Hills, Yousufguda and Punjagutta.
Mirza Kareem, another activist said, “The project will kill the entire ecosystem in and around KBR, plus there will be heavy water logging in surrounding localities even for little rains.”
Groups of Green Activists have written to CM A Revanth Reddy urging him to prioritise the park’s preservation.