Traffic Woes Near Railway Crossings in Hyderabad: Commuters Demand Action on Delayed Projects
The increasing traffic near railway crossings in areas such as Neredmet, Alwal, and Malkajgiri has caused significant problems for both pedestrians and motorists. This has once again highlighted the urgent need for a long-pending subway and Rail Under Bridge (RUB) to ease congestion in these areas.
Motorists face delays at least 25 times a day at key Level Crossings (LCs), including LC-249, LC-255, LC-250, and the LC near Loyola College in Alwal. The situation has become a daily struggle, with hundreds of commuters stuck for lengthy periods at these crossings.
According to sources, proposals for Road Over Bridges (ROBs) and RUBs in northern parts of Hyderabad were made over a decade ago. These projects, covering locations like LC-250, LC-249, and LC-255, have seen little to no progress due to delays by the State government. For example, the alignment plan for LC-250 has been discussed multiple times, but no final plan has been executed. Reportedly, the railways are now planning to revisit the project from scratch.
Frustrated commuters have been raising their concerns for nearly 10 years, filing RTIs and making repeated representations to both State and Central governments. “We urge all stakeholders to come together and proceed with the project. Whether it is an ROB or RUB, we just need action. Railways should allocate funds under the Amrit Bharat scheme to initiate the work,” said one commuter.
Noor, General Secretary of the Suburban Train Travellers Association and a resident of Malkajgiri, expressed his frustration with the delay. “This RUB was proposed 13 years ago, but no work has been done yet. The traffic gridlock at this junction is unbearable. Based on an RTI response, the modified project estimate is still awaiting approval. The proposed 50:50 cost-sharing arrangement between the State and Central governments remains unclear, leaving commuters to suffer every day.”
He added, “We’ve been approaching authorities for years to expedite the work, but there’s no progress. Every 10 to 15 minutes, the railway gates close, halting traffic on both sides. Once the gates open, the lack of road dividers causes confusion and chaos.”
Murali Krishna, President of the Federation of New Bolarum Colonies (FNBC), also highlighted the growing traffic issues near LC-250. “Freight and express trains pass every 15 to 20 minutes, leaving the gates open only once or twice an hour. This creates massive delays. We’ve followed up with both the State government and railway officials repeatedly, but there’s still no concrete solution.”
The increasing traffic and frequent delays at railway crossings have made life difficult for Hyderabad’s commuters. Residents are now urging the concerned authorities to take immediate action and put an end to their long-standing woes.
