Just a few kilometres away from the bustle of Secunderabad, lie the railway stations of Malkajgiri, Safilguda and Dayanand Nagar.
But, despite their proximity to ‘civilisation’, these stations appear completely disconnected.
Thick undergrowth, no proper lighting and police negligence ensure that they turn haunts for anti-social elements during nights, locals complain.
“Every day people come to these railway stations during nights to consume liquor. This is causing problems for residents of the nearby colonies,” Safilguda resident M. Srinivasa Rao rues.
Though police come patrolling, these practices continue due to the thick undergrowth, the lack of proper approach areas and lighting, Mr. Rao says.
Incidents of cell phone and chain snatching are also on the rise, say residents – this, even in broad daylight.
“One of my friend’s mobile was snatched at Safilguda by two youngsters who came on a bike. They fled away before we could raise an alarm”, says Maria Paul of Dayanandnagar.
Open spaces around these railway stations are also spots of lurking danger, some observe.
“Malkajgiri railway station has an approach road from only one side. Those coming from colonies located on the other side have to go through an unlit and unpaved area,” retired government employee Bala Krishna Reddy, a resident of Dayanandnagar, says. Trash strewn in these open spaces is leading to stray dog menace too, he says.
These apart, the road from Malkajgiri railway station to Safilguda via Dayanandnagar is riddled with potholes and a broken carriageway.
“Many people prefer to commute through this road as they can reach AOC Centre and Cantonment avoiding traffic on the Malkajgiri-Anand Bagh-Safilguda road. But motorists face difficulties due to the cramped roads riddled with potholes,” Mr. Reddy adds.
