Old City residents demand action on monsoon waterlogging, traffic congestion

Residents of Hyderabad's Old City have urged authorities to address recurring waterlogging and traffic congestion during the monsoon season. They have called for improved drainage maintenance, regular de-silting and preventive measures at several flood-prone locations across the area.

Hyderabad: With the advent of monsoon season, the Old City dwellers demand the authorities initiate measures to prevent waterlogging and traffic slowdown on several key routes.

Traffic jams or slowdowns are a routine affair in a few areas in and around the Old City during the rainy season. The residents have been facing problems continuously for the last few years despite assurances of the authorities that the situation will be handled tactfully during monsoons to ease inconvenience to the public.

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Heavy waterlogging at Dabeerpura Darwaza, Bibi Bazaar cross roads, Shahalibanda, Engine Bowli, Bandlaguda Road, Chaderghat and Attapur Road is a regular affair for the last couple of years when heavy rains lash the city.

“At Bandlaguda Road, the road turns into a mini pond as the road median blocks the flow of water. Motorists get stranded on the road for hours at a stretch due to heavy waterlogging,” complained Mohd Ibrahim, a local resident.

The situation at Chaderghat is similar, and due to waterlogging under the Rail under Bridge, the traffic movement slows down. “The traffic policemen are deployed to guide motorists to negotiate the waterlogged road. Due to a huge flow of water from the nearby colonies on the road, there is waterlogging; after the water is cleared, the traffic flow normalises,” said an official of Chaderghat traffic police station.

At Engine Bowli junction, the road turns into a pond during heavy rains. “The traffic gets stopped on both sides of the road near the Moghal function hall. The authorities should visit the spot and initiate measures to ease the problems,” demanded Syed Younus, a resident of Jahanuma.

People fear that the drains and nalas will get choked as a lot of mud and debris lying on the road following building demolitions for road widening for metro rail route will find their way into the drains on the main roads. “De-silting of the drains and nala should be taken up every fortnight in the rainy season to prevent choking of drain lines,” suggested Satish M, a resident of Haribowli area.