Manhole and pothole problems are widespread in the Nizampet Municipal Corporation (NMC), which is a fast-growing suburb in Hyderabad. Despite being the third richest urban local body, the municipality lacks basic civic amenities. After recent rains, the authorities have not taken any action to fix the potholes and manholes, which has highlighted their negligent attitude. Tragically, a four-year-old boy lost his life after getting washed away in a manhole, further exposing the municipality’s lack of concern.
The situation has persisted for over three days since the boy’s body was found. Manholes remain uncovered, and the lanes of NMC are filled with potholes. This has led to major accidents, including the death of an eight-year-old student who was run over by a speeding school bus. Despite such incidents, officials have not taken any steps to repair the lanes, according to local residents.
Residents of Nizampet face daily hardships due to the poor condition of roads. A recent incident involved a boy falling into an open drain, yet officials have failed to address the issue even after the tragic incident. The municipality’s main drawback is that residents have to meet the commissioner for every issue because junior officers do not seem interested in solving problems, as mentioned by a local named Sai Teja.
Another resident named B Srinivas added that both internal roads and main roads in Nizampet have become an eyesore for commuters. The roads are filled with mud and stormwater, making it difficult to walk or commute. The lanes also lack proper illumination. Despite numerous complaints and requests to repair roads, the NMC has yet to take effective action. Temporary measures like covering roads with sand after rain do not provide a lasting solution.
According to a local resident named Sunil, there have been many fatal accidents in the past two months due to bad roads and open drains. These roads and drains have become death traps for locals. Despite raising these issues on Twitter, concerned officials have not responded. It is high time for the authorities to take the initiative to cover the drains and repair the roads permanently.
