Shoddy repair works leave flyovers waterlogged, commuters fuming

HYDERABAD: Poor repair work by contractors and GHMC engineers have resulted in water logging on multiple flyovers in the city, every time it rains. While executing road restoration work, contractors had laid bitumen even on the outlets used to drain out water. On Saturday, water exits on several city flyovers remained closed, with commuters being forced to wade through water logged roads after Friday’s downpour.

The flyovers that often face this problem include, the Telugu Thalli flyover, Basheerbagh flyover, Gachibowli flyover and Panjagutta flyover.

Besides causing inconvenience to commuters, the stagnant water can also damage the flyovers. S P Anchuri, vice president (south) of the structural engineers world congress said, “even the best quality bitumen can be destroyed due to stagnant water.”

Moreover, the mud gathered at the water exit points is another source of menace. The sweepers often push the mud to the corners of the flyover where the water exit grills are located, thus barring the water from draining out.

Commuters who frequently use the Punjagutta and Gachibowli flyovers said that the city flyovers are unable to resist even brief showers. Prateek Kothari, a commuter who frequently takes the Punjagutta flyover said, “a short spell of rain on Friday night waterlogged the flyover, and during a heavy downpour it’s even worse.”

GHMC officials said that bitumen is being laid on water exit points of several flyovers.

We removed the blockages from the Punjagutta flyover soon after the weathermen predicted rains. We have pressed the sanitation staff into service to clear the mud near the outlets. Blockages on other flyovers will also be cleared,” said GHMC Khairatabad Zone Commissioner Musharaf Ali.

Meanwhile, Ridhima V, an activist, called for blacklisting contractors who resort to such shoddy repair works.