Traffic & chaos reign supreme under Amberpet flyover

Hyderabad: While the recently inaugurated 1.7 km Amberpet flyover provides a smooth passage to commuters, the situation below the elevated corridor is quite different. The road below the flyover is in a bad shape with potholes and loose gravel, causing hardship to commuters.Though the NHAI's R&B department constructed the flyover at a cost of Rs 330 crore, bringing relief to commuters on the busy Golnaka stretch, it is yet to construct the service roads used by thousands of people every day. The incomplete land acquisition process between Golnaka and Amberpet has led to poor road conditions at several places, especially near the junction, forcing motorists to navigate through the potholed thoroughfares. As well as causing widespread dust pollution in the area, vehicles are forced to drive slowly through the narrow lanes, leading to traffic jams during rush hours.The locals point out that the authorities started work on the flyover without constructing proper service roads and neglected the ground-level infrastructure. They stress that while the flyover is beneficial for highway traffic, local mobility needs equal attention."The construction of the flyover by the authorities shows a lack of comprehensive planning. While they acquired the land necessary for the construction of the flyover, they ignored the importance of the service roads used by the local people. Their oversight in managing traffic on the busy road connecting Uppal, Malakpet, Koti, OU and Nallakunta while allowing vehicles on the new flyover reflects sheer administrative negligence," said Ch. Prakyath Kumar, a resident of Golnaka.According to R&B officials, the development of the service roads is still pending as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has not completed the necessary land acquisition for widening the roads. "After the civic body completes the land acquisition and lays the necessary utilities, the construction of the service roads will be completed within a month," said a senior engineer in the R&B department.When contacted, GHMC officials said that the land acquisition of three crucial plots in Golnaka, comprising two mosques and a graveyard, is pending in the court and these unresolved issues are causing delays in the overall process.