Hyderabad: In a major infrastructure push, the South Central Railway has finalised the alignment of India’s first Regional Ring Railway (RRR) project, a 392-kilometre rail corridor that will connect eight districts and 14 mandals in Telangana. The ambitious project, costing around Rs 12,070 crore, aims to improve suburban connectivity. It will help reduce congestion in Hyderabad and boost economic growth in nearby areas.

Designed to complement the under-construction Regional Ring Road (RRR), the rail alignment will run parallel, just 3 to 5 km away, ensuring seamless road-rail connectivity. The route will go through Medak, Sangareddy, Vikarabad, Ranga Reddy, Mahabubnagar, Nalgonda, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri, and Siddipet districts. It will connect important places like Aleru, Valigonda, Gullaguda, Masaipet, and Gajwel. To minimise land acquisition and speed up construction, six segments of the corridor will be built on existing underutilised railway lines.

The RRR project aims to lessen Hyderabad’s over-reliance. It will do this by encouraging suburban growth and new townships. Officials highlight that the rail network will enhance freight and passenger movement, supporting industrial and commercial expansion in peripheral districts.

The proximity to the Regional Ring Road will create a transport-led economic corridor, facilitating smoother movement of goods and people through integrated road and rail networks.

Multi-Modal Hubs for seamless commuting

All 26 new stations will be multi-modal transport hubs. This means easy transfers between suburban rail, buses, and planned metro links. This integration is expected to improve last-mile connectivity and reduce traffic congestion in Hyderabad’s core areas.

With the alignment now finalised, the project is set to move into the tendering and construction phase. Authorities plan to finish the project in phases. They expect this will cut travel time for commuters and help boost the local economy.