Stretched to the limit

There is no end to the anguish of commuters along the Habsiguda-Tarnaka-Mettuguda-Sangeet crossroads stretch, which is marked by craters and dust these days

A portion of the road damage due to the recent rains at Habsiguda junction, causing difficult time to the commuters, in Hyderabad. PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

This stretch of road witnesses so much traffic that the authorities were forced to include it in the Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) project as the third corridor after Miyapur-L.B. Nagar and Jubilee Bus Station-Falaknuma.

That was the last good news that came for regulars who travel along this stretch.

Since then, there has been no end to the anguish of commuters along the Habsiguda-Tarnaka-Mettuguda-Sangeet crossroads stretch, which resembles the surface of the moon – craters and dust these days.

Travellers vent their frustration over the failure of government organisations to take responsibility for this stretch.

Apathy alleged

“The GHMC doesn’t touch this road because it does not fall under its jurisdiction. The Water Board and Metro Rail officials have ruined this road in the last one year.

Slow work

“Do we have to wreak the road to build something? The Roads and Buildings Department is least bothered and is very tardy in executing repair work. Which department will take responsibility for this stretch?” asks Sridhar, an IT employee and resident of Tarnaka.

Water pipelines

He is simply echoing the hardship of commuters. It all began with the laying of water pipelines for the Krishna water project a few years before the Metro Rail work began and even before the tussle between the South Central Railway (SCR) and the GHMC over road widening (see box).

Commuters’ woes

The last few months have been especially tough for commuters.

The ongoing work related to another shift of the Krishna water pipeline to facilitate the Metro Rail work has completely convoluted the stretch, with rains only compounding the woes.

“There are huge trenches, craters and loose soil everywhere. Buses and other heavy vehicles raise huge plumes of dust.

They dig up the road and later callously cover it with loose soil,” says T. Bharathi, a housewife.

Government organisations, including the Metro Rail, Water Board and the R & B Department indulged in “passing the buck” on repairing this stretch.

The R&B Department promised to repair the stretch, but the work is yet to start.

“Since 2007, this stretch from Rail Nilayam to Habsiguda is dogged with problems. When will we get deliverance?” asks Mallikarjuna Rao, who works at a corporate hospital.