Hyderabad: The commute on the Hafeezpet rail over bridge is becoming a risky affair with expansion joints are posing a threat to commuters.
This bridge is used by thousands of employees commuting to and from Miyapur and Lingampally towards Kondapur and Gachibowli every day.
Due to the heavy traffic, the joints have worn out. Consequently they have become speed breakers, leading to vehicles and slowing down at the joints and causing traffic congestion.
Daily commuter Sathish Kumar, a civil engineer, said, “This is becoming a risky drive especially for two wheelers. It is an expansion joint issue which can be replaced. The problem is caused by lack of proper maintenance of the bridge, especially because the traffic and the load on it has increased. It is the apathy of authorities and commuters have to bear the brunt.”
If the beams of a bridge expand, the joints shrink to allow for the expansion. When the beams expand, drivers would feel a slight bump on the road. On this stretch, the joints are protruding on to the road.
Residents allege that the situation is so bad, that anyone driving here can lose can control over their vehicle due to the unevenness at the joints. This stretch was taken over from the GHMC and recently adopted by the Hyderabad Road Development Corporation (HRDC) recently.
Social activist Vinay Vangala said, “I had been chasing the GHMC officials to fix the joints for a very long time. Now it is adopted by the HRDC and nothing concrete has materialised.”
He said that when motorists slow down, others behind them start honking. “This needs immediate repair before it further deteriorates,” Mr Vangala said.
When contacted, a HRDC officials said that had noticed the jumps and vibrations and initial investigation had been done. An official said, “This stretch needs a detailed investigation before we proceed on making any substantial change.”
He said that the road will be studied soon with help of experts.
