The Regional Ring Road (RRR) project seen as a game changer for Telangana is making swift progress, particularly on its northern section. The Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) is expected to give its approval soon for this part of the project. Proposals related to the northern stretch of the RRR have recently been sent to the PPPAC for clearance. Once this process is completed, the Union Cabinet’s approval will be sought. Following the Cabinet’s nod, tenders will be invited, and construction work will begin soon after.
If everything proceeds as planned, officials say that work on the Regional Ring Road is likely to commence in November next month. The Project Appraisal and Technical Scrutiny Committee under the National Highways Authority of India has given its approval for the northern section of RRR marking a key milestone in the project’s progress. The PATSC plays a crucial role in evaluating the technical and financial feasibility of major national highway projects across the country. It thoroughly examines each project, identifies shortcomings, and grants approval only after all issues are resolved. With the completion of all such evaluations, the northern section of the RRR has now received the PATSC’s clearance. The next step is to secure approval from the PPPAC.
Officials said the RRR northern section is currently awaiting PPPAC clearance, and the committee is expected to convene soon to grant the final approval for the project. Once the Public Private Partnership Appraisal Committee (PPPAC) grants its approval for the northern section of the Regional Ring Road (RRR), the project will receive final clearance from the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) at the central level.
Following this approval, tenders will be invited immediately, paving the way for the commencement of road construction. According to reliable sources, tenders for the northern section are expected to be opened in November, with further clarity likely to emerge within 15 to 20 days. Additionally, the RRR will soon be assigned a national highway number officials have indicated that it will be designated as NH-161AA. The Regional Ring Road will also be listed among the National Expressway records.
Currently, NH-161AA runs from Sangareddy to Bhongir via Choutuppal. Before the RRR proposal, this stretch functioned as a state highway, but during the RRR planning process, it was officially reclassified as a National Highway. Since it was decided to construct this road as an expressway, the authorities later opted to build it as a greenfield highway, replacing the existing old route. There is already a major national highway designated as NH-161, and another as NH-161A. In that sequence, the Regional Ring Road (RRR) has been assigned the number NH-161AA.
However, with three roads carrying similar numbers, there is a growing concern that this could lead to confusion. Hence, officials are reportedly considering assigning a new number exclusively for the RRR. The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will take the final decision on this matter. Until that decision is made, the Regional Ring Road will continue under the NH-161AA designation. Overall, with the number now allotted and tender invitations expected soon, construction is set to begin in November a development expected to transform not just Hyderabad but the entire Telangana region.