At Vidyanagar station, dozens of mendicants, rag-pickers and destitute persons were observed sleeping on benches and sprawled across platforms, often crossing the tracks to move between ends of the station
Hyderabad: Several suburban railway stations in Hyderabad are facing neglect, raising safety concerns among commuters and residents. When DC correspondents visited Sitaphalmandi, Arts College, Vidyanagar, Malakpet, Dabeerpura, Yakutpura and Uppuguda stations, they found a conspicuous absence of police personnel and security staff.
At Vidyanagar station, dozens of mendicants, rag-pickers and destitute persons were observed sleeping on benches and sprawled across platforms, often crossing the tracks to move between ends of the station. Dabeerpura station has likewise become a resting place for the homeless, with people walking on live tracks and neighbouring residents using the premises as an unofficial parking lot for cars and two-wheelers.
Commuters warn that the unchecked presence of vagrants and lack of surveillance pose a direct threat to passengers — especially women and families travelling during late hours. “Without a visible security presence, even routine journeys feel unsafe,” said one regular traveller at Sitaphalmandi.
Local residents and daily commuters have appealed to South Central Railway authorities to deploy adequate police personnel, clear encroachments and institute regular patrols. Railway officials did not respond to repeated requests for comment. Failure to act, commuters caution, could lead to an untoward incident.
