The residents of West Venkatapuram in Alwal are dreading the rains and finding it risky to venture outdoors after dusk, courtesy the severely damaged and under-construction road running over half a kilometre. Everyone, including school children and the senior citizens, are bearing the brunt of the neglect by civic agencies.
“It has been close to 1.5 years that work started on this road. First, it was dug up and then relaying work started. The authorities then stopped the work, leaving it unattended,” said C. Shiva Shankar, an advocate and a local resident. “The residents have registered innumerable complaints with the Hyderabad Water Board, GHMC and even local elected representatives. Nobody has done anything about the issue.” The stretch is also known to be accident prone. “On an average, ten accidents take place on this road, daily,” said a shopkeeper of the locality. “It is pathetic how we are compelled to take this route even though it is in a bad shape. Recently, three people got seriously injured after they fell from the bike.” To one end of the road, the surface level is a step lower than the rest. This has resulted in water logging in the far end of the road during the rains. Locals complain that motorists and pedestrians end up hurting themselves, unable to judge the road; it is no less than a nightmare during the nights.
The Hyderabad Water Board officials blame the GHMC for not relaying the road at quick pace even though the site was handed over to them two months ago after drinking water pipeline was completed. The GHMC authorities said that the work is progressing slowly because of the rains.