B-SMILE scraps ORR redevelopment tender again, to audit potential encroachments along the stretch

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually inaugurate the newly upgraded Hi-Tech City railway station in Hyderabad on July 17. The station, which has undergone extensive redevelopment costing ₹26 crore, will see its transformation completed ahead of the virtual ceremony. The upgrades include a 12-metre-wide foot overbridge, additional lifts and escalators, improved signage, and a range of other passenger amenities aimed at enhancing user experience. The station is part of a broader initiative by the Indian Railways to modernise infrastructure across Telangana under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (ABSS). This scheme involves the redevelopment of 40 railway stations in the state, with an overall investment exceeding ₹2,000 crore, according to South Central Railway (SCR) chief Public Relations Officer A. Sridhar, who made the announcement during a press briefing on Wednesday. The Hi-Tech City railway station lies within the jurisdiction of the Secunderabad Division on the Lingampalli-Secunderabad rail route. It serves as a key node for suburban train services, with approximately 62 MMTS (Metropolitan Mobility Transport System) services passing through the station each day. These services connect passengers to several destinations, including Secunderabad, Hyderabad, Umdanagar, Falaknuma, Medchal, and Ghatkesar. On an average day, the station sees around 3,000 visitors, highlighting its significance in the region's transportation network. As part of the redevelopment, the station has received a new entrance portico, improved circulation areas, additional platform shelters, modern restrooms, a dedicated waiting hall, and enhanced accessibility features for individuals with disabilities, as stated in an SCR press release. Meanwhile, in Bengaluru, efforts to redevelop the Outer Ring Road (ORR) have faced repeated setbacks due to complications arising from encroachments and design flaws. Bengaluru Smart Infrastructure Limited (B-SMILE), the agency responsible for the project, has once again scrapped the tender for the redevelopment after deciding to conduct an audit to assess potential encroachments along the road. The decision comes in response to instructions from Greater Bengaluru Development Minister Krishna Byre Gowda, who urged the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) managing the project to hold a public consultation before finalising the design. A B-SMILE representative confirmed that the tenders have been withdrawn, and preparations are underway to identify encroachments in areas such as Kadubeesanahalli and Devarabeesanahalli. An internal report indicated that several establishments in these regions have encroached upon the road, complicating the redevelopment process. During recent site inspections, officials noted inconsistencies in the road's width, prompting the need to reclaim lost space. Additionally, they highlighted the necessity of addressing drainage issues that have historically led to flooding, especially in areas like Marathahalli, where severe waterlogging was observed during heavy rains in early June. The challenges encountered have forced multiple revisions to the project's design. Initially, the plan focused solely on the redevelopment of the main carriageway, excluding work on service roads that had already been asphalted by the East City Corporation. However, this approach has since changed, with the inclusion of resurfacing for these sections. In October 2025, the SPV finalised the initial design and proposed extending quality monitoring beyond the Defect Liability Period (DLP) by implementing more stringent controls. The project had originally considered white-topping only parts of the 17.1-km stretch, but objections from the Bengaluru Traffic Police prompted further adjustments. Eventually, the plan evolved to cover the entire stretch, citing the long-term benefits of white-topping for a critical urban corridor. Despite selecting a lowest bidder and initiating the tendering process, the project was halted twice due to technical concerns, necessitating a complete reassessment of the approach. The ongoing developments in both Hyderabad and Bengaluru reflect the complexities involved in large-scale infrastructure projects. While the Hi-Tech City station upgrade marks a significant step forward in improving commuter experiences, the repeated delays in the ORR redevelopment underscore the challenges posed by urban planning in rapidly growing cities. Both initiatives highlight the need for continuous evaluation and adaptation to ensure successful outcomes.