Hyderabad: Road expansion delay chokes trudging traffic in Shalibanda

Shalibanda: Commuters who regularly commute on the route of Shalibanda to Falaknuma continue to silently endure the painstaking journey which chokes at different locations including Aliabad. The religious structures on the stretch only add to the perilous journey at least within a distance of 2 km, as there is no alternative route. The last time road-widening works were taken up was in the year 2012.

It has been 18-months since the higher officials of Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) along with MIM floor leader, Akbaruddin Owaisi inspected the 6-km stretch on the proposed stretch of Metro connecting MGBS and Falaknuma. But reasons like land acquisition issues and lack of political will have pushed the issue on the backburner, following the Assembly and General elections. Even as officials of civic body claims to be taking up the task ahead. "This is still on the cards and we are taking up works," says a GHMC official, when The Hans India inquired.

According to locals, for the past decade the stretch has been increasingly chocked by vehicular movement. The road-widening will not only help commuters a smooth flow but can avoid traffic snarls in area.

The proposed road-widening of about 4.5 km stretch by GHMC is aimed at providing a better commuting connecting the important localities of Shalibanda, Aliabad, Shamsheerjung to Falaknuma.

Mohammed Ahmed, the vice-president of TDP minority cell, said the stretch would not only ease for the regular commuters but also render relief to the tourists who visits the historic monument Charminar and Falaknuma Palace.

"The road-widening project was started with much enthusiasm by GHMC, but surprisingly still the project remains at a standstill. While sections like the stretch from Charminar bus stop to Shalibanda near Dhanraj Jewelers was completed, the Syed Ali Chabutra and Shamsheerjung stretch was impressive, but the remaining stretch is still to be covered. It seems, the GHMC and the departments concerned have forgotten the project", Ahmed pointed.

During these years, only 30-40 per cent of widening works were done and around 80 properties were demolished and around 150 are still to be demolished. Some of the property owners went to court.

Abdul Rahman, a social activist, observed that there always remained huge traffic congestion from Syed Ali Chabutra towards Aliabad and Shamsheerjung. "This stretch is narrow and the commuters face inconvenience. The road is busiest and the area is also converted into a commercial area in recent years. The decade-old-project is still pending and now the authorities must take up the project as early as possible," he added.

The road from Shahalibanda to Syed Ali Chabutra is wide, but near Shah Ghouse hotel to Aliabad is narrow and is horrible. "Commuters face trouble and frustrated over the traffic. It must be widened as earliest", said Fazl-ur-Rahman, a regular commuter.