Bumpy roads taking a toll on RGIA cabbies

​Shamshabad: Bad roads are taking a heavy toll on the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) cabbies. On an average three to four car drivers have to consult a doctor every month due to back ache.  

Telangana Four Wheels Drivers Association State President Shaik Salauddin said, “My fuel bill has increased from Rs 9,600 to Rs 12,200 a month. Yesterday, I went to Secunderabad and was forced spend more on the fuel due to traffic blocks. Our monthly budget for fuel has increased due traffic jams and bumpy roads. It takes 1 hour 10 minutes to cross just 8 km,”

According to a recent research by the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) has found that driving a car on a bad road is more expensive than driving it on a smooth road. Preliminary estimates put the fuel wastage at Rs 960 crore a day in India.

Driving on poor roads is burning a big hole in commuters’ pocket in terms of fuel as well as health, said city doctors and residents. 

On an average 30 to 40 patients are visiting us on a daily basis because of back problems. Bad roads are causing problems like slip discs and pains, particularly for office-goers, said Shaik Salauddin

Patients are spending around Rs 2,000 to 3,000 for routine consultation and for an MRI scan they have to spend around Rs 10,000. Main patients are youths. 

Some visit us with neck and back issues. Long drives on poor roads are one of the main reasons. Commuters stay more than 20 minutes on bad roads. Said Health of drivers and vehicles are at high risk due to the bad roads in the city.” The cab drivers at RGIA are planning to submit a request to the authorities to repair the parking area.