Anjaiahnagar collapse exposes unchecked construction and growing risks in rapidly expanding neighbourhoods
Hyderabad: In addition to Anjaiahnagar in Gachibowli, where an under‑construction building collapsed killing two persons on Saturday, similar illegal constructions exist in the same area at Hafeezpet, Siddiquenagar, Telecom Nagar Extension and PJR Nagar. Unlike other parts of the city, the number of multi‑storied buildings built on 50 to 60 square yards of land is higher in these unplanned layouts.
Due to proximity to IT corridors, hostels and PGs exist here in large numbers. Increased rental value compared to other parts of the city is making property owners more greedy — the result is putting lives at stake by raising additional floors on small plots.
The Anjaiahnagar incident drew attention to fast‑changing neighbourhoods around the building site, where multi‑storey buildings stand alongside smaller houses and new structures continue to come up. Residents in and around these areas fear accidents.
“A building collapses, lives are lost, officials rush to the spot, suspensions and criminal cases follow. But the bigger question is how many other questionable buildings are still standing?” said L. Harinath from Siddiquenagar.
A person at the Anjaiahnagar site where demolition was underway said a show-cause notice was issued to the owners in June for unauthorised construction, yet work continued until the structure came crashing down. “If the authorities had already found violations, why was the building allowed to be constructed?” he questioned. “Action should have been taken when the violations were first noticed, not after people lost their lives,” he said.
In the areas mentioned, there is a mix of tall residential buildings, apartment blocks, narrow internal roads, compound walls and overhead power lines. In some places, buildings stand close to one another, reflecting the rapid and unplanned growth that has taken place in the locality over the years.
“Earlier, we never thought much about whether a building had permission or whether all the safety rules were being followed,” said a woman from Telecom Nagar Extension. “After the recent incident, everyone is looking at the buildings around them and asking if they are safe,” she added.
M. Shamala, from Hafeezpet, said many buildings have come up in recent years. “People should not live in fear and wonder whether the building next to them is safe. Authorities should take action,” she said.
