HMDA Launches Safety Campaign to Reduce ORR Accidents

Hyderabad: With a surge in accidents on the Nehru Outer Ring Road (ORR) caused by illegal parking of lorries and heavy vehicles in no-parking zones, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), traffic police, and ORR concessionaire IRB Golconda Expressway have jointly launched a month-long safety awareness campaign.

Titled ‘Parking is unsafe on ORR,' the initiative aims to educate motorists about the life-threatening risks of stopping or parking on the high-speed corridor and to reinforce strict compliance with safety norms. Officials said the 158-km-long ORR, designed for uninterrupted travel at speeds up to 120 km/hour, has seen a noticeable rise in fatal and serious accidents linked to vehicles parked along the shoulders or emergency lanes.

Such vehicles create sudden obstacles for fast-moving traffic, leading to collisions. Road safety experts have long warned that vehicles parked without hazard lights or reflective warning devices are among the leading causes of avoidable crashes on the ORR. The combination of high speed, low visibility, and driver fatigue at night amplifies the risk, often with tragic outcomes.

At the campaign's launch, Ch Param Jyothi, chief general manager of Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited, underlined the urgent need for behavioral change among drivers. “The ORR is meant for smooth, high-speed transit—not for parking. Many of the accidents we investigate are directly linked to vehicles parked illegally on the shoulders or emergency lanes. In partnership with IRB Golconda Expressway and the traffic police, we are stepping up both enforcement and education. Even a momentary stop on the ORR can cost lives. Safety must always come before convenience,” she stressed.

As part of the campaign, HMDA and its partner agencies will conduct on-ground awareness drives, digital outreach, and interactive sessions with commercial drivers, logistics operators, and private motorists to promote responsible use of the ORR. The teams will also intensify patrolling and monitoring along accident-prone stretches. The campaign will collaborate with oil marketing companies to display prominent messages. Additionally, the campaign will highlight the existing regulation of ‘No entry for two- and three-wheelers on ORR,' which remains crucial for road safety and preventing vulnerable users from entering high-speed zones.