Zoo Park-Aramghar Bridge Finally Ready, But Road Conditions Below Remain Dire
After four years of waiting, the 4-kilometer-long Zoo Park-Aramghar Bridge, which began construction in 2021, is now complete and will soon be open to the public. This development brings some relief to commuters who have long endured traffic issues on this busy stretch of National Highway-44.
However, while the newly constructed bridge is ready, the road beneath it remains in terrible condition. Commuters traveling below the bridge are still struggling with a bumpy, pothole-ridden road layered with dust and scattered concrete stones. Despite the completion of the bridge, the lack of attention to the road below has left many frustrated.
For the past four years, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials were focused on completing the bridge, leaving the road below in a neglected state. This has made traveling through the stretch between Zoo Park and the Aramghar underpass a nightmare for road users, who have had no choice but to endure the poor conditions.
Mahender, a commuter from Rajendranagar, criticized the authorities for their apathy. “Road users were forced to suffer through the bad road conditions while the officials remained indifferent. The bridge work under the Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP) was done without adhering to a clear timeline, and the state of the road below has been ignored all these years,” he said.
Syed Shoukat Ali, a senior citizen, expressed his disappointment, stating, “While the GHMC claims taxpayer money was being put to use, they have failed to explain the delay in completing the project and the neglect of this stretch of road. Commuters have been suffering for years.”
Some commuters recalled the dangers they faced during the bridge’s construction. Syed Munawwar, a Zoo Park resident, described how fumes from welding work on the bridge often fell onto the road below while commuters were forced to navigate the uneven surface. “Neither the GHMC nor the construction staff took measures to ensure the safety of road users,” he said.
The poor maintenance of the stretch has also resulted in numerous accidents over the years, some of which were fatal. “Officials want us to believe they care about our safety, but the lack of planning and execution speaks otherwise,” Munawwar added.
K. Narsing, another road user, urged the authorities to act quickly. “The GHMC should stop misleading us with promises of development. They must address the appalling condition of the road below the bridge and make it usable for all commuters immediately.”
While the completion of the Zoo Park-Aramghar Bridge is a step forward, the suffering of those traveling below it highlights the need for comprehensive planning and execution. Commuters hope the authorities will now turn their attention to repairing and improving the neglected road.
