Residents living near the Railway under Bridges (RuBs) face annual flooding issues during the monsoon season. The overflowing nalas cause severe flooding in surrounding areas, with haphazard construction narrowing the nalas and worsening flood risks. Local activists are demanding permanent solutions from civic authorities as temporary fixes have failed to address recurring inundation problems.
Areas like Talab Katta and Malakpet experience up to four feet of flooding during heavy rains, halting traffic for hours. Residents of Malakpet, Azampura, Yakutpura, and Talab Katta near the RuBs in the GHMC Charminar zone are particularly affected. The narrow nalas, filled with debris, overflow during heavy rains, inundating the RuBs and surrounding areas.
Despite efforts by the civic body and railways to address the issue, only temporary solutions have been implemented. Activists and residents are frustrated by the lack of a permanent fix, with projects focusing on desilting only providing short-term relief. The situation remains the same year after year, with residents bearing the brunt of the flooding.
Local corporators acknowledge the ongoing problem and efforts made to alleviate it, but admit that more needs to be done to prevent flooding near RuBs. As part of the monsoon action plan, desilting works have been completed in the nalas, but deeper desilting is needed to ensure water flows freely during heavy downpours. The GHMC’s current approach of temporary desilting is insufficient and contributes to water logging in RuBs and surrounding areas.
Residents and activists continue to push for permanent solutions to prevent annual flooding near RuBs, emphasizing the importance of thorough desilting and debris removal to mitigate inundation risks.