IIIT Hyderabad Multi-Level Flyover Work Begins, ₹500 Crore Signal-Free Gachibowli Junction Targeted By 2028

Construction activity has formally started at one of Hyderabad's busiest IT corridor intersections, with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) initiating a major infrastructure upgrade at the IIIT Hyderabad junction near Gachibowli.

For daily commuters, the appearance of pillars and barricades signals two realities at once: immediate congestion and the promise of long-term relief.

The ₹500-crore project aims to transform the junction into a signal-free interchange by May 2028, a move expected to ease chronic traffic congestion faced by lakhs of motorists travelling between Lingampally, Gachibowli and surrounding IT hubs.

Multi-level interchange planned

The project proposes a complex multi-tier arrangement. A level-1 bi-directional flyover will connect ISB Road and DLF Road, while level-2 semi-circular flyovers will link DLF Road to Gachibowli Stadium and ISB Road to Indira Nagar. An underpass connecting Indira Nagar and Gachibowli Stadium will also be constructed, requiring excavation across 18 to 21 metres of carriageway.

Initial preparatory work is already underway. Three to four pillars have been raised along the Lingampally road to support the flyover landing from DLF Road towards Gachibowli Stadium. Officials selected the wider stretch first to avoid a complete shutdown of traffic movement.

Gachibowli Traffic Inspector Gona Suresh said construction began on the broader flank so vehicles could continue moving. The IIIT Hyderabad junction to Lingampally currently has about 3 to 3.5 lanes on each side, allowing engineers limited operational space without fully blocking traffic.

Underpass excavation to cause major traffic disruption

Authorities acknowledge the underpass will create the most significant disruption. Excavation across multiple lanes will reduce available road space substantially. In preparation, civic agencies have started relocating utilities and greenery along the stretch.

"Either side of the stretch is lined with trees, and land acquired from IIIT includes substantial greenery. Tree transplantation has begun after securing permission from the Tree Protection Committee. After this, power cables will also be removed and possibly shifted underground to avoid future disruptions," the official explained.

During peak construction, only about 2 to 2.5 lanes on each side will remain operational. Need-based traffic diversions will also be implemented. Vehicles coming from Lingampally may be redirected via Masjid Banda village, merging near the Botanical Garden before rejoining the Gachibowli road.

Signals at the core junction will temporarily disappear once work intensifies. Motorists will need to take short U-turns and travel longer routes for a limited period.

Narrow DLF Road remains a bottleneck

Flyover construction itself is less intrusive, as pillars are being built along the central median, occupying roughly 10 feet or about 1 to 1.5 lanes for equipment and materials while keeping the remaining carriageway operational.

However, the biggest design constraint remains DLF Road. The road is narrow, misaligned and ends nearly 15 metres before the junction, forcing staggered merging of traffic from Lingampally and DLF Road. Property acquisition and widening efforts are underway to correct the bottleneck.

Lakhs of commuters already affected

The IIIT junction handles massive daily traffic volumes. Around 2.6 to 2.8 lakh vehicles travel between Lingampally and Gachibowli each day, while another 1 to 2 lakh vehicles use the ISB-DLF Road stretch in both directions. Between 8 a.m. and 11 a.m., and again from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., motorists often spend about 10 minutes at the signals, frequently waiting through multiple cycles.

Commuters say the situation has already worsened since construction preparations began. T. Ashok, who travels regularly between HCU and the city, described growing unpredictability in travel time.

"Even during peak hours, I used to cross in under seven minutes, especially with the free-left from DLF Road towards C.R. Rao Road being managed well. Now it takes over 10 minutes," he says. "When approaching from DLF side, I often reroute via Masjid Banda to avoid getting stuck, but that adds to my travel time."

He added that earlier traffic eased after crossing the junction, but reduced road space is now causing chaotic movement beyond the intersection as well.

While officials insist the inconvenience will be temporary, commuters in Hyderabad's IT corridor are preparing for several years of slower journeys before the promised signal-free travel becomes a reality.