Gunrock roads gunned down by monsoon

P Pranay

The stretch of road from Diamond Point to Bowenpally monda market has clearly seen better days. The digging undertaken by the Central Power Distribution Company of Andhra Pradesh Ltd (APCPDCL) to lay down cables has shortened the already narrow road. Work has been going on for the past six months and only a narrow stretch is available to make inroads into colonies.

Uma Agarwal, a resident of Gunrock said, “The digging has been going for a very long time and I find it very difficult to enter my colony. Earlier on, at least they had placed a metal railing for bikes and cars to pass through but now they have filled that site with gravel.”

The recent rains have battered the roads with potholes and all commuters have to take a big risk while driving on it. There have been various incidents where people have even fallen off their bikes due to the bumpy road. Nadhan, a security guard said, “Traffic cops have had a hard time managing the situation. The potholes temporarily have been filled with mud and sand and it is at least manageable now. But another dose of heavy rain will damage it, making the situation even worse.”

The power cables are laid in the night between 12am to 5am. During daylight, the machinery and other heavy equipments are left abandoned on the side. Denizens of the area are frustrated with the delay in completing the project. Whenever they question about its delay to the authorities, they get a standard reply that it will be completed soon. The residents fear that if the roads are left unattended, it could catapult their woes.