Hyderabad: A new foot-overbridge that is being constructed at Begumpet is being criticised by residents as it only lands pedestrians near the median instead of taking them to the other side.
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials said that they have taken all factors into consideration before starting the construction, and that is the most suitable place to fulfil the requirement of the FOB in that area.
Experts say an ideal overbridge should lead pedestrians from one pavement to the one on the other side. The foot-overbridge starts on the pavement near the Greenlands Guest House and ends near the median below the flyover. The FOB is intended for pedestrians who want to cross from Greenlands bus stop and go towards the Ameerpet route. However, it ends near the median itself.
G. Shankar Narayan, an architect, says, “The bridge lands only at the end of one side of the road near the median and there is another part of the road which people have to cross to reach the other side. What is the point in constructing a foot over bridge like that, which does not land the pedestrian in a safe place?”
Officials insist it is the most suitable place to solve the pedestrian problem.
M. Ravi, station house officer, Panjagutta traffic police station, says, “The foot-overbridge is being constructed in that area towards Greenlands Guest House because there is no scope for vehicles to stop as there is a free left on that stretch whereas on the other side, there is a traffic signal a stone’s throw away, through which people can cross the road, from the u-turn pass. And the traffic flow from that side is also less, as most of the people take the flyover above.”
The official also added that it is not possible to construct the flyover throughout the road length as the road is congested on the other side and there is a flyover in the middle.
