Hyderabad: The Foot Over Bridge (FOB) on Banjara Hills road number 1 has been ready for use for some time, but pedestrians continue to cross the busy road below, weaving through traffic even as a safer alternative stands just metres away.The stretch remains busy through most of the day, with a mall on one side, a hotel on the other, and a nearby hospital drawing a steady flow of people. Pedestrians said crossing the road becomes particularly difficult during peak hours, forcing them to wait for a gap in traffic before making a hurried dash across.“I cross this road almost every day as I come from the opposite direction, and there is never really a comfortable time to cross. One has to look for a gap. Sometimes vehicles are already speeding towards you,” said Vikesh Kumar, who works at one of the offices in the vicinity.For people heading to the nearby hospital, the situation can be even more difficult. “If you are coming with an elderly person or someone who is unwell, you cannot expect them to run across a road just like that. You always have to end up standing there, waiting for someone to give way,” said a hospital visitor.“If there is some work or permission pending, people need to be informed,” said Geetha Gowda, who was visiting the locality.Pedestrians said the problem was not just about safety but also questioned why a facility that has already been constructed was not being put to use. With more than ₹5 crore spent on the project, construction of the ‘3D design bridge’ was completed in early 2026.GHMC officials said the facility was initially scheduled to be inaugurated during the 99-day ‘Praja Palana Pragati Pranalika’ programme. However, the inauguration was delayed as officials waited for an appropriate occasion.“We will ensure that this FOB is operational for public use within the next week, even if the formal inauguration has not taken place,” said an official in the engineering wing of the GHMC.
