Far from development

​Lack of street lights, traffic issues, bad roads, reeking sewage, the list continues...

Constituency: Patancheru
Voters’ profile: The constituency has 1.5 lakh voters in three divisions viz. Bharathi Nagar with 33,334 voters, RC Puram with 33,016 voters and Patancheru with 55,219 of voters

If not for the unprecedented success of Rs 5 meal scheme, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials couldn’t have shown their faces as the word development is unheard in Pantancheru constituency.

Official apathy in dealing with civic issues has left the residents in lurch and many said that they have not seen an iota of development in their division from a long time. The locals said that despite complaints galore and representations to the local corporators none of them were addressed. Noticeably, very few residents know about their corporators and about the activities of GHMC.

No traffic lights
The major residential colonies in the Patancheru are situated along the stretch of Mumbai Highway and due to lack of traffic lights they have become accidental prone zones. Traffic management is a nightmare near the Patancheru Bus Station.

Jitendra, a resident of Patancheru said that due to unavailability of parking places, visitors park their vehicles in front of the shops creating a logjam. “In a last year more than 50 accidents happened due to traffic,” he added.

Krishna, a TSRTC employee said that their service bus drivers faced a lot of problems to negotiate the traffic. “Clashes and verbal duels between bus drivers and two wheeler riders are common. Too many U-turns and coupled with lack of traffic lights and staff to manage traffic made the situation worse,” he said.

Non-functioning vegetable market
Even though a vegetable market was constructed in Bharathi Nagar more than five years ago, it hasn’t been functioning. Vamshi Kumar, an engineer and resident of LIG Colony said that locals depend on the weekly markets. “Reasons are unknown for why the market wasn’t open. As it has been closed, it has become a breeding ground for anti-social activities,” he said.

Women, from the neighbouring colonies said that they are forced to travel long distances due to lack of market. It should be recalled that the State government has proposed a new vegetable market in Patancheru, recently.

Colonies turn cesspool
The colonies near Hazarath Syed Nizamuddin Shaheed Dargah, beside the famous Patancheru tomb reeks of sewage as lack of sewage lines are turning the area into a cesspool. Imran Sheik, a carpenter said, “Municipal officials have assured that they will fix the issue but nothing has been done.

The situation becomes worse during rainy season as the roads get logged in sewage.”The problem is widely seen in colonies of Goutham Nagar, Dolla Basthi and Shanti Nagar. However, the corporation has started pipeline work from the interior areas to address the issue.

Power theft
Power theft is another major concern in slum areas of the division. Several slum dwellers were found stealing electricity from live wires. Despite numerous accidents while coming in contact with live wire, the problem still persists.

Electric poles are short helping the residents to steal power. A municipal official from the circle office said that due to lack of enforcement staff they are unable to take any action. “The whole colony was constructed illegally without leaving a mandated setback for electric poles,” he said.

And many more
The colonies in the constituency have been suffering from several other issues which include shortage of water, bad roads, mosquito and dog menace etc. Though the Patancheru is drawing Godavari water, the scarcity still persists.

Residents have been struggling for water and beelines before private RO plants are a common sight. When The Hans India contacted the incumbent corporators refused to comment.