Narrow stretch chokes traffic movement

Chandrayangutta: Even after a road-widening project was taken up and around 20-foot on each side was cleared at Chandrayangutta X roads towards providing smooth connectivity to Srisailam Highway and airport, the road remains narrow, near the junction. With no further progress, the dusty section on both sides turns parking zones for business establishments.

The project which was started following construction of new RGI Airport was to provide better access to people residing in this part of the City. It has been five years since land for the expansion of the narrow stretch was cleared, but still no progress has been made in laying section of road as part of road-widening project.

According to locals, land acquisition was made and all the debris cleared, but ever since the works had come to a halt and no development took place from then on. This area is now used for parking for commercial spaces and during night hours it turns a parking for heavy vehicles. "It is the only road for those don't wish to take Inner Ring Road and this provides easy access to Srisailam Highway.

This is generally used by most of the Old City residents to cut their distance short. This Airport route starts from Chandrayangutta passing through Barkas area and Pahadishareef which reaches the airport within 13 km. Unfortunately, the entire stretch from Chandrayangutta to Barkas has been cleared, but the project remains to be materialised," said advocate Abdalla Bin Bahamid, a social activist.

According to him, the developmental works of the roads were taken up following RGIA inception, but following formation of Telangana the authorities were not keen enough to take forward the project. "When it is an important project closely related to airport and one of the important access routes, the road here still remains as though nothing has been changed. Due to this, there is always traffic congestion and people get stuck in traffic snarls. The commuters going to airport are amongst those who suffer," he noted.

Stretch accident-prone

The social activist said that the Roads & Building (R&B) authorities neglected the road. Apart from road widening, the entire stretch remains in worst condition and there is no signal near the 'Y' junction in Chandrayangutta and it has become an accident-prone area. For the past 2 months, on this stretch, six accidental deaths were reported.

The residents point out that for the airport which is enlisted amongst the topmost airports in the world, this kind of access road is pathetic. "While the condition of Ring Roads is better, this important route and highway has been neglected," laments," said Murtuza Mohsin.