Hans News Service Karimnagar

Thenewly constructed four-lane National Highway-563 between Hanamkonda and Karimnagar is ready to be opened for traffic, BJP state spokesperson and Karimnagar Deputy Mayor Yadagiri Sunil Rao said on Wednesday.

In a press statement, Sunil Rao informed that the highway was constructed under the Bharat Mala Pariyojana at an estimated cost of Rs 1,641 crore. The 68-km stretch has been developed with an advanced traffic management system (ATMS), and trial runs are currently being conducted by National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).

The road has been designed for vehicle speeds of up to 100 kmph and is expected to reduce travel time between Hanamkonda-Warangal and Karimnagar from around one hour to nearly 45 minutes.

The highway includes nine major flyovers and bridges, 23 minor bridges and 25 underpasses, besides bypasses at Shankarapatnam, Manakondur, Huzurabad and other locations.

CCTV cameras, solar lighting and other safety measures have also been incorporated, he said.

Sunil Rao said the Karimnagar-Jagtial national highway was also being developed at an estimated cost of nearly Rs 2,000 crore. The tender process has been completed and the project is expected to be completed within two years, he said.

He said various development works had also been taken up in Karimnagar city under the Smart City and AMRUT programmes, along with UDF and UIDF schemes.

Sunil Rao said the NH-563 would be formally inaugurated and opened to the public after completion of the ongoing trial runs.