
HYDERABAD: While more rainfall has been predicted by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) till the third week of October, pothole-ridden roads have become the nightmare of motorists.
The 140-odd monsoon emergency teams deployed by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) are busy battling rain-related damages across the city in the evenings, and refilling potholes is an added burden for them during the day. No wonder, they are not getting the attention they need.
Apart from the gaping potholes, the bitumen on most roads is falling apart, making commuting dangerous for motorcyclists. The industrial area from Balanagar to Moosapet- Y-junction is the worst hit not just because of potholes, but also the sand on the roadside. “The sand on the left side of the road causes obstruction while driving. When it rains, it becomes slippery, otherwise, we need to deal with the soft dust that flies in the air,” said VBK Mohan, a local resident.
“The post-monsoon patchwork by GHMC officials on the Begumpet flyover has slowed down traffic
for a stretch of five kilometres. Why cannot they do the same during night hours?” asked a commuter. The pressing problems of the monsoon season in Hyderabad do not seem to end even after KT Rama Rao, Minister for Urban Development, at a recent event admitted that the condition of roads in the city was
pathetic. Amid all the social network complaints that have emerged over the past two weeks, an online campaign initiated by Raja Mamidi is gaining strength to ‘build safe roads in Hyderabad
within six months or refund road taxes paid by citizens.’