The plans of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to set up express corridors for seamless travel along the dense traffic stretches of the city has not gone well with some who point to the prevailing road conditions in the city.
The civic body has identified four road stretches of Alwal to Madhapur via Begumpet, L.B. Nagar to Gachibowli via Aram Ghar, Kompally to Paradise via Bowenpally and Madhapur to Patancheru via Gachibowli and BHEL for express corridors. “Expressways will be taken up on high traffic density corridors which are important and will become more critical in future. These routes will be studied and proposal given by the technical consultants as to what needs to be done for smooth and traffic signals free movement,” said GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar.
The proposed stretches would have a mix of multi-level grade separators, widening, footpaths, stormwater drains, medians, street lights, street furniture etc. “Some stretches might be elevated and it depends on feasibility and local conditions,” he said.
However, TDP floor leader in GHMC, Singireddy Srinivas Reddy, scoffs at the proposal demanding that the civic body first do a reality check of the present road conditions in the city. “Maximum number of road stretches are in awful conditions with potholes and bad conditions and instead of attending to them, grand plans for express corridors are being proposed,” he said.
Since 2009, not a road was properly handled and only patch works were done as temporary solution, he rues. “First repair the roads, improve conditions and then think of providing seamless drives,” Mr. Srinivas Reddy said.
The GHMC has also announced setting up at least 10 foot over bridges within next three months to facilitate safer crossing over of roads especially for the physically challenged. These are to come up at Banjara Hills, Road No.1, Road No.12, Jubilee Hills check post, Lakdikapul Ayodhya Hotel, Gowliguda Imlibun bus bay, Abids Big Bazar, Koti Womens College and at Afzal Gunj bus stand.
Incidentally, the proposals for FoBs and express corridors would be crossing path with the ongoing Metro Rail works that raise questions on how they would be executed. However, Mr. Somesh Kumar exudes confidence on finding a way out.
