Hyderabad Outer Ring Road (ORR) is embracing advanced technology to enhance roadside greenery maintenance while improving the safety of maintenance workers.
In a major modernization initiative, imported automated trimming machines from Europe are being used to replace much of the manual vegetation trimming along the high-speed expressway.
Each of these specialized machines costs around ₹10 lakh and is designed to quickly and efficiently trim roadside vegetation. A single machine can manage 5 to 7 kilometres of greenery in a day, officials said. The same job would take around 10 workers and nearly 5 days to do manually.
The move is expected to transform the way in which landscaping and roadside maintenance are performed on the ORR, one of Hyderabad’s busiest and fastest road corridors. The automated machines provide uniform trimming and reduce the time maintenance crews need to be on the road.
European machines replace manual greenery maintenance on Hyderabad’s ORR.
— Naveena (@TheNaveena) July 20, 2026
• Imported automated trimming machines from Europe, costing ₹10 lakh each
• One machine trims 5 to 7 km/day
• The same work manually takes 10 workers about 5 days
• Automated irrigation and drip… pic.twitter.com/NoTu16P9sf
Focus on Worker Safety
The decision follows several fatal accidents involving maintenance workers on the ORR. Because the expressway is filled with heavy traffic and moving fast, workers who trim with their hands are exposed to high risks.
If workers are not required to work on the carriageway for extended periods, we can expect some safety improvement with automated tools.
Smart Irrigation System Introduced
Apart from automated trimming, authorities are now using automated irrigation and drip sprinkler systems on roadside plantations. These systems will offer water directly to plants in a controlled manner, minimizing water waste and producing healthy greenery year-round.
The smart irrigation network is expected to improve water management and reduce maintenance costs over time.
End of Water Tanker Operations
The use of water tankers in irrigating roadside plants will gradually be phased out in the modernization project. Tankers have long travelled along the ORR to deliver water to plantations but were often subject to traffic management challenges and safety concerns.
The new irrigation system will eliminate the need for tanker movement so road operations will become smoother and traffic will be less affected.
Faster, Safer and More Sustainable
The introduction of automated maintenance equipment is a necessary step towards smarter road infrastructure, the officials said. The machines not only make operations more efficient, but also lower long-term maintenance requirements and protect workers from hazardous road conditions.
Hence this initiative reflects the growing interest in adopting new technologies for urban infrastructure management in Hyderabad. If successful, this kind of automated maintenance system could be rolled out on other major highways and expressways across the country.
With professional trimming tools, automated watering systems, and increased safety measures, Hyderabad’s ORR is setting a new benchmark for sustainable highway maintenance in the area of efficiency, technology, and worker protection.
