Hyderabad: Ride on flyovers back-breaking

​Hyderabad: The flyovers constructed in Hyderabad with an aim to ease traffic snarls are turning into back breakers for the commuters particularly those who travel by two wheelers.

Gaps between the two segments (expansion joints) have developed in majority of the city flyovers and have been posing a grave threat to two and three-wheeler riders.

Thousands of commuters who use flyovers have been complaining that the bumpy drive has been causing several health-related problems, including back pain, muscle spasms and other joint-related troubles. For road users with underlying ailments, the situation has only been getting worse.

Sharing his experience, A Rajeshwar Rao, a private bank employee, said he daily commutes from West Marredpally to Banjara Hills and the drive has turned into a nightmare. He said that he has to drive across five flyovers to reach his office.

Stating that the road conditions have improved, he said the gap (size) between two segments on the flyovers has alarmingly been increasing during the past few months.

The 54-year-old said the condition of Begumpet flyover has gone from bad to worse. Wheels of scooters are small and it results either in minor accidents as well.

P Satyanarayana, a 26-year-old techie, who commutes to office from Baghlingampally to Gachibowli, said there were many incidents where the two wheeler drivers narrowly escaped accidents on the Narayanaguda flyover.

Many times the drivers have to apply sudden brakes to slow down the vehicle which results in skidding. This problem is much high during evenings, he said. He urged civic authorities to at least to put a metal sheet to minimise the accidents.

D Srikanth, a 45-year-old private employee said that the he has been suffering from severe pain in his lower back due to the bumpy rides on the flyovers.

However, when asked about it, a GHMC official told The Hans India that the joints help flyovers a little 'breathing' room.

He said that bridge segments would expand and contract slightly for a number of reasons, including temperature changes, shrinkage of the concrete and even the weight of vehicles.

The GHMC official said the corporation would very soon conduct an extensive survey to study the gaps and its impact on the drivers.

He said the corporation would seek expert opinion from Indian Road Congress (IRC) and take necessary action.