Hema Singuluri | Hyderabad 

For the thousands of daily commuters, traveling through uneven roads has become risky and challenging. Particularly, Mehdipatnam, Charminar, Hitech City, Kondapur, stretches from LB Nagar to Vanasthalipuram and their adjoining areas along with other busy areas of the city are amplifying the risk of accidents. Pothholes are the biggest challenge and one of the major causes of accidents. Filling potholes is not solving the problems as a single shower is enough to damage the roads.

Despite a barrage of complaints and frequent patchwork, it’s only getting worse. According to the Road Safety and Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) Road Engineering Department, the main reason is the non-clearance of road works of the National Highway Constructions department happening for the past 3-4 years. However, while monthly coordination meetings take place among Traffic, Road Safety, and GHMC officials, the visible results on the ground are insufficient ‘due to budget issues’. “We do conduct road safety inspections, but measures are taken while accidents happen in order to rectify that, but the road work is on GHMC which is stopping due to budget and many issues”, added Mansingh, the Road Safety Inspector. 

Daily Commuters Respond 

Thrinath G, resident of Vanasthalipuram and daily commuter from his home to Dilsukhnagar, says, “The road near Chintalkunta underpass is full of uneven patches and deep potholes that get worse specifically after every rain. Very minor repairs are done rarely, that too the material washes away in a week. Two-wheelers like mine slip easily when the potholes fill up with muddy water as you can’t even tell how deep they are, GHMC just keeps patching it up again and again”. He emphasized that despite repeated complaints, the problems remain unaddressed. 

Afzal, a Zomato delivery rider says “I do multiple trips a day, and the LB Nagar–Vanasthalipuram stretch is the worst. The NH-65 road has deep craters that damage our bikes and cause back pain from constant jerks. GHMC claims it fixed thousands of potholes, but it is not visible. Even streetlights are missing in some spots, which makes it risky at night. I’ve started taking inner colony roads, but they’re no better because those too are full of dust and uneven surfaces.”

Meanwhile, Manikanta, resident of LB NAGAR and regular office commuter, added that travelling from LB Nagar towards Hayathnagar has become unbearable. The elevated corridor construction has made the whole stretch chaotic with traffic jams at any time of the day. The roads are broken, uneven, and full of dust. “Specifically, the drainage fails, and waterlogging hides the potholes completely. Since last year, I’ve seen several bikers skid and fall near the Chintalkunta signal. It’s total mismanagement”, he added, highlighting the drainage leaks through these potholes and uneven patches making it risky for the riders. 

Meghana G, an IT Employee who travels by Rapido/Uber daily, says that the roads near Wipro Circle and Gowlidoddi are filled with potholes that damage our vehicles. During monsoons, it’s impossible to judge which stretch is safe,” she added. Commuters are now advised to rely on live navigation apps like Waze and Google Maps for real-time traffic updates and to actively plan alternative routes around problem stretches.