Hyderabad: A narrow stretch beneath the Punjagutta Metro station has become an open dumping site, with small heaps of dry and wet waste, food leftovers and empty liquor bottles scattered across the area. Despite repeated cleaning drives by civic authorities, the stench, coupled with swarms of mosquitoes and flies, has made the pathway unbearable for residents and commuters. Many say they are forced to cover their noses or wear masks while passing due to the stench.“The issue isn’t limited to waste dumping. People openly urinate along the stretch throughout the day. Ironically, a public toilet is barely 100 metres away,” said Satya Bhaskarla, a resident who frequently uses the pathway to reach her home.Residents claim that as daylight fades, the narrow stretch turns into an informal drinking spot, raising safety concerns. Ruthwika Eliminety, another resident, said, “The lack of lighting and CCTV cameras has made the stretch feel unsafe, particularly for women returning home after dark. Empty liquor bottles are scattered across the road, and people drinking openly have become a common sight.”Residents also blamed the absence of regular monitoring by civic authorities for the recurring problem. “Most of those littering the road are commuters and passers-by, not residents living in the vicinity. Seeing garbage already piled up, many assume it is a designated dumping site, which further worsens the problem,” said Shoaib Khan, a Punjagutta resident.Rajkumar Khanthala, who frequently uses the stretch, alleged that sanitation workers often leave silt removed from drainage openings beside the drains instead of disposing of it properly. “During rains, the waste gets washed back onto the road, creating a breeding ground for mosquitoes and other disease-causing insects,” he said.Residents believe inadequate public sanitation infrastructure is also contributing to the problem. Another local, Pawan Kumar Reddy, pointed out that many daily-wage workers avoid using paid public toilets. “The govt should provide more free public toilets and create awareness about sanitation,” he said. “Painting walls with awareness messages could also help address the issue.”“Regular sweeping and garbage removal are being carried out in Punjagutta. However, we will inspect the location beneath the metro station, assess the issue on the ground and take necessary measures to address it,” said an official from the sanitation wing of the GHMC’s Khairatabad Circle.
