By Asif Yar Khan
Hyderabad: The Barkas鈥揝haheennagar road, a key route to the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA) in Shamshabad, has become a nightmare for motorists and locals, especially after sunset, due to non-functional street lights and pothole-ridden stretches.
Street lights along the crucial 4-km stretch from Barkas to Pahadishareef have not worked for several weeks, leaving commuters to navigate dangerous road conditions in the dark. The absence of functioning traffic signals further raises the risk of accidents.
While alternate routes like the Shamshabad Road and Meerpet鈥揜CI Road have seen rapid development, this stretch remains neglected. 鈥淎irport-bound traffic faces constant issues on this road,鈥 said Kareem Ansari, a resident of Sadatnagar.
Despite the State government鈥檚 plan to develop this route to international standards, locals say that apart from partial road widening, no significant improvements have been made.
鈥淭he road looks more like a remote highway than an urban arterial stretch,鈥 said Abdul Rawoof, a social worker from Shaheennagar.
The recent rains have worsened the situation. 鈥淧otholes have turned into stone beds, making two-wheelers prone to skidding,鈥 said Junaid, a businessman from Jalpally. 鈥淭he authorities aren鈥檛 even taking up basic repairs,鈥 he added.
Mohd Asif Iqbal, a Pahadishareef resident, said the absence of lighting has made the road extremely dangerous during night and rain. 鈥淎ccidents are a daily occurrence here,鈥 he noted.
Residents are urging the municipal authorities and other concerned departments to prioritise repairs, restore lighting, and improve safety measures on the stretch to ease the commute and prevent further accidents..