ROUGH RIDE: The Begumpet-Rasoolpura road in pathetic condition. — PHOTO: P.V. Sivakumar

HYDERABAD: Even as baldiya officials insist carpeting works of 265 badly damaged city roads were grounded, the scene on the ground is otherwise. Worse, road users have to endure the ramshackle roads for at least two more months for the MCH plan to be translated into reality.

MCH officials maintained that they had grounded carpeting works on 265 roads sanctioning Rs. 20 crores for the purpose and these were likely to be completed only by January.

MCH Chief Engineer Dhan Singh said 18 contractors were entrusted with the task and work orders issued. The identified roads were either badly damaged or carries heavy traffic load and were crucial for the smooth movement of traffic.

Road cutting works

"All these days, we were hampered by continuous rains and more importantly incessant road cutting works by various essential services departments, including HMWSSB, APCPDCL and BSNL, resulting in battered roads, potholes and trenches everywhere," he said.

According to officials, most of the works were grounded in localities like Tarnaka, Vijayanagar Colony, Golconda, Shaikpet, Dhoolpet, Punjagutta, Santoshnagar, Moosarambagh, Azampura and Dabeerpura. But, signs of recarpeting were few and far between. "We haven't come across any signs of re-carpeting yet. Roads continue to be in a shambles," said Suresh B., resident of Tarnaka.

Echoing similar view, lawyer and resident of Ameerpet, Narahari said the Satyam theatre road leading to Kanakaduraga temple, Ameerpet was dug up and left like that for months. "It is in a horrible condition pounded by the heavy traffic. When will we have good roads?" he asks.

Not on priority list

Ameerpet does not figure on the priority list of 265 roads. And what about the rest of the roads in the large road network handled by the MCH, which haven't received a single coat of tar for two years now? "Further works are also being sanctioned depending on the need and requirement," MCH senior official maintained. Officials say another Rs. 35 crores was being sanctioned for the purpose. Even as the behemoth moves, the Himayatnagar MLA G. Kishen Reddy says shortage of bitumen could derail the plan. "It is the contractor's job to procure bitumen," Mr. Dhansingh said.

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