The state government on Thursday approved the construction of a 30-km elevated expressway from Parade Grounds to Shamirpet at a cost of Rs 500 crore. The construction of the elevated expressway will be the part of the conversion of the Rajiv Rahadari (Hyderabad to Karimnagar) two-lane highway into a four-lane road. This will be one of the longest elevated expressways in the country. At present, the 12-km P.V. Narasimha Rao Expressway connecting the city with the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport road is the longest such construction.

The Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who approved the expressway project, also cleared the construction of three four-lane roads after discussions with the Roads and Buildings Minister, Mr T. Jeevan Reddy and officials. Apart from the Rajiv Rahadari which would be made four-lane at a cost of Rs 1,085 crore, Dr Reddy approved the conversion of Potullapattu-Naidupet Road into four-lane at Rs 450 crore and Narkatpally to Addanki road at Rs 910 crore.

The government also decided collect toll tax only from commercial vehicles henceforth and allow vehicles belonging to medical services, agriculture and local residents to move freely. Mr Jeevan Reddy said the Chief Minister directed officials to prepare a detailed project report of the expressway and start works at the earliest. The minister added that roads which were damaged in recent heavy rains and floods would be repaired on war footing.