Vehicle repair shops losing business over road works

Karwan: The slow pace of road-widening works between Karwan and Jiaguda started by Hyderabad Road Development Corporation Limited (HRDCL) about two weeks ago is affecting the businesses of roadside stores.

Most of the roadside stores are solely dependent on vehicular flow; some of them are mechanic stores, battery stores, puncture repair and welding stores. Each of these stores is dependent on vehicles which are not allowed on the road because of construction work which has significantly reduced the number of customers.

Mohammed Khalid a battery store mechanic said, “Our business completely depends on automobiles because of this road-widening project from past two weeks our customers have reduced to a drastic level, we are happy that the road is being laid after several years, but the problem is the work is very slow. Earth movers have come and dug the surface leaving almost no space for vehicles to stand in front of our store.”

Sai Ram a water store worker said “It is trouble for us for loading water bottles, earlier we use to fill the truck in front of the store now we have to hire labors to load water bottles into the truck, which we cannot afford anymore because it has been more than ten days and the work is very sluggish, moreover the.”

Karwan Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) corporator Rajender Yadav said “The 100 feet road development project is being done under the strategic road development programme by HRDCL department of GHMC which is an independent body. The work is happening without our involvement or indulgence.”

Osman Bin Mohammed Al-Hajri, president of Deccan Wakf Properties Protection Society, said “The land belongs to Wakf board and the construction works were stopped by the court, and we have also submitted notice to both GHMC commissioner and Engineer-in-chief.” Several attempts were made to contact
officials of HRDCL department but all were in vain.