In Hyderabad, pedestrians are at risk due to the lack of footpaths. They can be hit by vehicles or fall into manholes. Two-wheeler users also face the danger of skidding and getting into accidents because they can’t see where the proper road is. This is a terrible situation for the common people who have to walk through knee-deep water during the monsoon season. The city roads have become a nightmare because the civic authorities haven’t paid much attention to the inner roads and the main road works are of poor quality.
The MAUD department boasts about constructing several flyovers, but most of them have badly damaged surfaces due to the recent heavy rains. People living in low-lying areas are struggling to protect their belongings and drain stagnant water. This has become a yearly activity for them. The roads in important stretches like Bahadurpura, Uppal, Kukatpally, Jeedimetla, Peerzadiguda, Bachupally, Karwan, Nizampet, Mallampet, Pargathi Nagar, and parts of the Old City are severely damaged and filled with potholes. The situation at R K Puram flyover, Purana Pul, and Moosarambagh bridge is scary because the road surfaces are badly damaged. The narrow flyover with potholes causes massive congestion and driving on city roads feels like a circus act, according to a resident of R K Puram.
With every rain, the roads get more damaged. Many complaints have been made to GHMC officials, but no action has been taken. The most they do is cover the potholes or damaged surfaces with sand, which is dangerous for two-wheeler users as they skid easily. A resident of Peerzadiguda said that whenever it rains, the areas near the Musi River get flooded and the lanes have standing water. A resident of Uppal said that even moderate rain causes waterlogging on the roads. Although stormwater drains were approved a long time ago, no work has started on them. A school headmaster in Musheerabad also complained that water has entered the school premises because the stormwater drains are blocked. It’s time for the government to resolve this issue and make Hyderabad a true global city.
