A disaster in waiting
Hafeezpet flyover is in shambles just a few years after construction
“This flyover is an important link to Hitec City, but look how poorly it is maintained,” laments Jagadish Kumar, a software employee who works at Gachibowli. Jagadish is a regular commuter taking the Hafeezpet RoB, but loathes the daily ride.
Even as the government boasts of undertaking several new projects in Serilingampally constituency, the dilapidated condition of the Railway over Bridge (RoB) between Miyapur and Hitec City, risks thousands of motorists travelling everyday.
Considered to be one of the dream projects at Hafeezpet eight years ago, this RoB was never officially inaugurated. Though wide enough to provide free flow of traffic, the vehicles have to take a bumpy ride. Most of the joints need urgent repairs, as the rubber portions that provide a smoother drive have completely worn out from the joints.
Residents around the RoB think that it was made with poor quality materials. “When flyovers of several decades have not weathered out what could be the reason for this flyover which is just eight years old to decay?” asks Umar Taher, a resident of Kondapur.
Umer points out that the divider of the flyover too is of poor quality as is evident from the peeling of the cement coating. Median lights have worn off. “If heavy rains like that of Friday’s continue for a few more days not only lights but a part of the structure can also come crashing down. It’s probably the poor quality that kept officials and politicians away from inaugurating it,” he hazarded a guess.
During the rainy season, traffic on both sides of the RoB go haywire as there is no proper engineering mechanism to avoid water-clogging. Vehicles have to wait for hours for the water to recede, whenever it rains.
Besides, this the flyover has lost most of the frames holding huge cables. “You can see several cables hanging down from above, making it risky,” points out Rajalaxmi, a vendor.
Unmindful of the risks several avail the space below, while thousands speed on the RoB. Several mild accidents have also occurred, particularly with bikers skidding due to the uneven surface.
The local MLA, M Bikshapathi Yadav assured that he would pay a visit to the RoB and inform the GHMC. “I will try to ensure that the problem is solved at the earliest,” he said.
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