Tangled TV, Internet Cables Endanger Hyderabad
A senior lineman said the cables made maintenance work difficult and increased accident risks while climbing poles.
HYDERABAD: Tangled and low‑hanging internet and television cables continue to pose safety risks and hamper maintenance work across Hyderabad, with little change despite concerns over unorganised cable networks.
A visit to West Marredpally, Padmaraonagar, Musheerabad and Panjagutta revealed cables wrapped around electricity poles, hanging over shop sheds and running along public infrastructure. Bundles of wires were also found beside roads and along the walls of the Punjagutta flyover.
In West Marredpally, shopkeeper Satyanarayana said the wires remained in place. In Musheerabad, a medical shopkeeper pointed to several cables wrapped around a pole outside his shop, some hanging over the shed and extending towards a neighbouring building.
A senior lineman said the cables made maintenance work difficult and increased accident risks while climbing poles. “We face difficulties while climbing for repairs, and this can even lead to falls. The unused cables are not being removed and keep accumulating,” he said.
An engineer with an internet service provider said old cables were often left behind when customers changed connections or shifted providers. Additional loops were also kept around poles for future repairs, adding to the clutter. “Whenever a new connection is provided, the old wire is not removed. It is folded and left at the pole, while a fresh cable is laid. Some additional cable is also kept as a loop for repairs or reconnection if the line develops a fault,” he said.
The continued presence of tangled cables raises concerns about resident safety and the difficulties faced by electricity personnel during maintenance.
Residents have called for coordinated action by the power utility and telecom providers to identify and remove abandoned cables and ensure new connections are installed in an organised manner. They also suggested shifting networks underground or providing separate poles for service providers to reduce congestion around electricity infrastructure.
