Hyderabad: The substandard construction of city flyovers and metro stations has citizens in constant fear about standing beneath them. Over a span of two months, two persons have lost their lives due to the apathy of nodal agencies, the GHMC and HMRL. In both accidents, underneath Ameerpet metro station and off the biodiversity flyover, home-maker wom-en lost their lives without their fault.
On Saturday, Satyavani (40) died when a speeding car fell off a flyover, uprooted a tree on its way down, a branch of which smacked her in the face with such force that her head was severed. On September 22, G. Mounika (24), died when a hoarding fell off from wall of the Ameerpet metro station. The sharp edge of the piece fell on her head from about 9 meters height and killed her instantly.
In a knee-jerk reaction in both incidents, both nodal agencies ordered a high-level enquiry to examine the substandard construction and rectify it. The HMRL has rectified the structures at 10 metro stations including Balanagar, Parade Grounds, Rasoo-lpura, Hitec City, Gandhi Bhavan, LB Nagar, Osmania medical college, New market, and Tarnaka by forming six specialised engineering teams.
A railing collapse in Chandralok complex during 2016 claimed the life of 40-year-old A. Durgaiah, a security guard with a private agency, heading home after work. He died on the spot when a concrete portion of the railing fell from the sixth floor of Chandralok complex on his head.
All these incidents worry citizens. “We have been leaving our houses with a constant fear of death, which could come from any unexpected quarter. We are exposed to structural damages in city infrastructure, buildings in dilapidated condition, over- speeding vehicles, open manholes, unfenced nalas, open stormwater drains, potholes and several others,” said Dr Shalini Kommu, resident of Trimulgherry. “Despite paying taxes for the better civic amenities, every Hydera-badi has a sense of insecurity,” said K. Naveen Chowdary, a social activist.
