Hyderabad: For thousands of commuters travelling between AOC Centre Gate and St John’s Church in East Marredpally every day, navigating the battered road has become part of the routine. The stretch, used by residents, school buses, RTC buses, shoppers and office-goers, is riddled with potholes and damaged patches that worsen after every spell of rain, slowing traffic and increasing the risk of accidents.Residents say the problem is anything but new. Despite repeated repairs over the years, the road surface deteriorates within months, leaving commuters to endure the same ordeal year after year. “I have been running a hardware shop here for 45 years, and the condition of this road has hardly changed. Whenever a new road is laid, it remains in good condition only for a few months before potholes reappear. After several months, sometimes even years, another road is laid, and the cycle repeats,” said Munnalal Agarwal, a resident and shop owner.
He added that the local traffic police recently filled several potholes with cement and stones to reduce the immediate risk to motorists. “We appreciate the effort because it has helped to some extent, but it is only a temporary measure. What this stretch needs is a permanent solution,” he said.The damaged surface has become particularly hazardous for two-wheeler riders, especially when rainwater fills the potholes and conceals their depth. “Almost every day, at least one person skids or falls here. Even on Sunday morning, a woman lost control of her scooter and fell after hitting a damaged patch. Thankfully, she escaped with minor injuries,” said Uday Kumar, another resident.Many commuters say they are forced to slow down abruptly or weave around potholes, creating bottlenecks throughout the day. During peak hours, vehicles crawl along the stretch as motorists try to avoid the craters while navigating heavy traffic. “The road has become so uneven that even travelling a few hundred metres takes several minutes. We spend more time avoiding potholes than driving normally,” said Satish Gupta Telukunta, who commutes along the stretch every day.Shopkeepers along the road say the poor condition also affects business, as customers often avoid parking along the damaged stretch or hesitate to stop during rains. “People visiting the market constantly complain about the road. Water collects in the potholes, and vehicles splash muddy water on pedestrians. This has become an everyday inconvenience for residents and visitors alike,” said K Lakshmi, who runs a store near St John’s Church.Residents said the stretch has undergone repeated patchwork repairs over the years but still lacks a lasting solution. They urged the civic authorities to relay the road with proper drainage and durable surfacing instead of relying on temporary repairs that deteriorate within a short period, forcing commuters to face the same problem every year. “A proposal has already been prepared to relay this stretch, and the work will be taken up soon. We are aware of the condition of the road and will complete the project at the earliest,” said Dhaku Naik, Deputy Commissioner, Bowenpally Circle.
