Dug up roads in Hyderabad become danger zones during rains

HYDERABAD: Inordinate delay in restoration of roads dug up for various works related to stormwater drains, laying sewer lines, telecom cables or water pipelines have turned them into potential danger zones for commuters as well as residents during rains.
At many places, the road cuttings, potholes and improperly covered roads are not only causing traffic chaos but making them accident prone.
“The road, which I usually take to commute for work has been cut to lay a cement road on one side and the other side has been left incomplete for several days now,” said Aarif Khan, who stays near Chacha Nehru Park at Masab Tank. “There is only a narrow gap on the thoroughfare and that is also a back breaking experience due to the gravel and other construction waste left unattended.”
The road from Khaja mansion convention function hall to Garden Towers in Banjara Hills is another such example. It was dug up in the middle for water works a long time ago, and has been left unattended. “The pit is at least 8-feet deep and can prove to be dangerous during rains. There are children walking on this road on a regular basis,” said B Kaushik, a resident of Banjara Hills.
Near Humayun Nagar, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has dug up a pit, which is a potential danger zone for commuters as well as residents. A similar pit has been dug up by GHMC at Ahmednagar. A small board on the barricade erected around the dug-up road reads, “Inconvenience caused is regretted”.
At Chital Basthi, the road that leads to Khairtabad, Banjara Hills near Sarvi restaurant and Road Number 10, the pits dug up for repairs are now becoming water logging points causing severe inconvenience to citizens. Most places where the repairs are being delayed were subjected to flooding during the heavy rains last year.

The GHMC has banned road cuttings from June 1 to October 31, including those that come under the comprehensive road maintenance programme. Agencies undertaking cabling work, laying gas and water pipelines were told to restore the pits and road cuttings owing to the onset of monsoon.
Citing example Kavadiguda and Bholakpur, where roads have been dug up, officials said they have given permissions to water works department and Transco for emergency works. “In Bholakpur, the water works department is taking up work to lay a water pipeline. We have given permission only because residents in that area were getting contaminated water and there were chances of them falling sick,” said M Devanand, chief engineer (maintenance), GHMC.
“Otherwise, all government and private agencies including Transco, HMWSSB and BGL have been told to restore roads soon. The ban came into effect on June 1, but there are certain pending works. We will certainly take action against them,” he added.