Rampant road encroachments cause traffic chaos at Madina Market in Hyderabad
Hyderabad: Residents and visitors of Madina Market, Pathargatti, near Charminar Old City, are expressing growing frustration over the lack of proper pedestrian dividers, inadequate vents, and rampant road encroachments in the area. They have called on the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to address these issues.
While speaking with the Hyderabad Mail, MA Ahmed, a local resident, highlighted the significant challenges faced by commuters in the region. Ahmed said, “Madina Market, Pathargatti, near Charminar Old City, which is Hyderabad’s largest wedding market, is lacking essential amenities such as proper dividers and vents for pedestrians.”
Despite the presence of hundreds of shops and showrooms in the market, Ahmed described the current state of the area as deplorable. He pointed out that road encroachments are widespread, and the absence of effective traffic regulations and future planning is leading to chronic traffic congestion.
Ahmed said, “The road becomes severely congested with vehicles in the evening, resulting in prolonged wait times for those booking cabs. He suggested that removing these road encroachments could significantly alleviate traffic congestion and reduce jams. The high foot traffic, due to the market’s popularity and its proximity to the tourist attraction Charminar, exacerbates the traffic problems.”
He highlighted the urgent need for GHMC to install proper dividers to enhance safety and prevent accidents.
The concerns extend beyond Madina Market to other parts of Hyderabad’s Old City, where residents suffer from poor infrastructure. Areas such as Mir Alam Mandi, Moghalpura, Chaderghat, Sha Ali Banda, Panjeshah, Hari Bowli, and Dar-ul-Shifa are plagued by numerous issues, including potholed roads, damaged manholes, stagnant water, unattended garbage, incomplete roadworks, and uneven dividers.
The roads are riddled with potholes, creating hazardous driving conditions, while damaged manholes pose further risks to pedestrians and motorists. Inadequate drainage systems lead to water pooling after rainfall, breed mosquitoes, and heighten the risk of mosquito-borne diseases. Additionally, accumulating uncollected garbage contributes to unsanitary conditions and an unpleasant environment.
Residents are calling for GHMC’s immediate intervention to address these problems and improve the quality of infrastructure in the Old City.
