{
  "id": 9271464,
  "title": "Why lessons from Hyderabad’s KBR faux pas must inform our future",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/23/why-lessons-from-hyderabads-kbr-faux-pas-must-inform-our-future",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-23T04:48:40.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/why-lessons-from-kbr-faux-pas-must-inform-our-future/article71497139.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two months ago, Jayesh Ranjan and R.V. Karnan, officials from the Special Chief Secretary's office and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, respectively, faced questions from students and professionals during an urban mobility panel discussion. The conversation centered on the city's deteriorating road infrastructure, the lack of public transport, and restricted pedestrian options. The officials struggled to provide satisfactory responses, revealing a disconnect between policymakers and the daily struggles of citizens. Less than two months later, it was announced that the planned seven flyovers and underpasses around KBR National Park would be replaced by two elevated corridors. This decision came after the felling of trees for construction, leaving a barren stretch of road. The project, part of the Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure (H-CITI) plan, has been criticized for its lack of consideration for the environment and the priorities of the government, which have been revealed as favoring private transport over public options. The push for more road infrastructure began under the Strategic Road Development Plan, initiated a decade ago, which has resulted in over 40 structures costing more than ₹7,000 crore. Despite the failures of these structures to alleviate traffic congestion, the government has continued to prioritize building more road infrastructure, disregarding the negative impacts on the environment and the city's liveability.",
  "summary": "The Government appears to have realised the futility of more road infrastructure only after the stretch around the park was converted to one-way traffic to facilitate the structures",
  "key_points": [
    "Officials failed to address urban mobility issues during panel discussion.",
    "KBR flyovers replaced by two elevated corridors amid tree felling.",
    "Government prioritizes private transport over public options."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The shift from seven flyovers and underpasses to two elevated corridors around KBR National Park signals a belated recognition of the need for sustainable urban planning that prioritizes environmental concerns and public transport.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}