Hyderabad: Silt, poor lighting raise safety concerns on Barkas-Pahadi Shareef road

Accumulated silt and inadequate street lighting on Hyderabad’s Barkas-Pahadi Shareef road are raising safety concerns among residents. They say poor sweeping and dark stretches at curves and junctions pose particular risks to two-wheeler riders and other motorists after dark.

Hyderabad: Poor road sweeping and inadequate street lighting on the busy Barkas-Pahadi Shareef stretch have emerged as major safety concerns, with accumulated silt on the carriageway posing a risk to motorists, particularly two-wheeler riders.

The road, which falls under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), witness considerable traffic throughout the day including commuters and visitors travelling towards the Baba Sharfuddin Dargah at Pahadishareef, and the RGI Airport.

---

However, improper sweeping has resulted in a thick layer of silt accumulating along portions of the carriageway. “The road is not being swept properly and silt is accumulated on the carriageway.

Two-wheeler riders are the worst affected as their vehicles can skid suddenly. The civic authorities should take immediate steps to clear the silt,” said Tabrez Khan, a resident.

Residents also pointed to inadequate lighting at several sharp curves and junctions along the stretch. The poor visibility becomes particularly hazardous after dark, when motorists have limited time to react to vehicles approaching from the opposite direction or negotiate bends safely.

Moizeuddin, a local resident, said the lack of proper lighting compounded the problem. “There are sharp curves and important junctions on the Barkas-Pahadi Shareef road, but lighting is inadequate at several places.

During the night, motorists struggle to clearly see the road and approaching vehicles. This can easily lead to accidents,” he said.

Residents pointed out that the area was earlier under Jalpally municipality and was subsequently brought under the GHMC. Despite the change in civic administration, they alleged that basic road maintenance, including regular sweeping and adequate lighting on important roads, remained inadequate.

They urged the GHMC to conduct regular mechanical and manual sweeping, remove accumulated silt and install or repair streetlights at vulnerable curves and junctions to prevent accidents.