NHAI’s Apathy Forces Hayathnagar Residents to Stage Protest Demanding FoBs

Raising slogans denouncing the attitude of the NHAI, the residents led by Hayathnagar corporator K Navajeevan Reddy and Mansoorabad corporator K Narasimha Reddy criticized the negligence of officials in ensuring pedestrians safety on the national highway.

According to Navajeevan Reddy, thousands of vehicles pass through the Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway everyday making it difficult for pedestrians to cross the road. The NHAI has taken up expansion of the highway to six-lane with two service roads from LB Nagar to Malkapur covering over 25 kms.

As part of the expansion works, the NHAI has also proposed to construct three FoBs at Hayathnagar bus depot, Bhagyalatha bus stop and Word and Deed High School. It completed construction of the FoB at the school but failed to take up the work at Hayathnagar bus depot, he said.

Instead of constructing the FoB at Bhagyalatha bus stop, the NHAI started construction work at Autonagar where no one can utilize it. The NHAI changed the location of FoB stating that local shopkeepers raised an objection, he said.

“What is the purpose of constructing FoB at Autonagar when no one uses it? If NHAI faces any problem from locals, why can't they consult us to resolve the issue?” he asked.

Navajeevan Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that at least 16 people lost their lives in the last two years while crossing the road. A few days ago, a fatal road accident in Hayathnagar resulted in the death of MBBS student Aishwarya. Her father Pandu escaped with injuries.

The accident occurred when they were crossing the road at RTC Colony. Several pedestrians, who suffered injuries after unknown vehicles hit them on the highway, became handicapped, he explained, requesting officials to do the needful to protect the lives of people in the locality.