Uneven roads, delayed MMTS induction and unending water woes -- Malkajgiri presents the picture of a forgotten backyard of the city. Though Malkajgiri, spread over an area of more than 16 sq km and with more than three lakh residents, is one of the densely populated areas in the city, it has not seen completion of any major infrastructural project in the recent years, residents complain.
“The saga of Malkajgiri can be summed up as that of broken promises and gross neglect,” B.T. Srinivasan of United-Federation of Resident Welfare Associations (U-Ferwas) says.
While roads under the GHMC are being maintained in a timely manner, those between Mirjalaguda-Neredmet and Moula Ali-Uttam Nagar come under the Roads & Buildings Department and face inordinate delays, he points out.
Many major projects, like the bridge over Safilguda railway crossing and Road under Bridge (RuB) at Uttam Nagar, are caught in red tape due to lack of coordination between elected representatives, he complains.
Malkajgiri also lacks proper public transportation system, locals point out.
“Most residents work in far away areas like Hi-Tec city and Banjara Hills and we have to depend either on overcrowded buses during peak time or use own vehicles,” P. Sai Kumar, a resident of Malkajgiri, says.
Employee of a MNC in Madhapur, Mr. Kumar undertakes a two-hour long commute to reach his office each time.
“Residents of Malkajgiri do not even have the promise of seeing better days as the Metro Rail project has completely bypassed the area and MMTS phase two is hanging fire since long,” he rues. Surprisingly, the area which is situated at close proximity of major centres like Secunderabad and Paradise is bedevilled by many other issues.
While most adjoining areas, like Tarnaka, Marredpally and Sainikpuri, receive regular municipal water supply, residents of this area receive water only once in every three to five days.
“Authorities have been promising for long that the Krishna Phase III project will ensure regular water supply, but that project never seems to materialise,” K. Sandhya Rani, a home maker says. Drums and pitchers to store water are a common sight in many homes in Malkajgiri, she observes.
To improve the living conditions in the area there is a need for close coordination between the GHMC, Roads & Buildings Department and the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) as the all three bodies have areas coming under their respective jurisdictions, Mr. Srinivasan adds.
