Vanasthalipuram – Hayathnagar stretch on NH65 a daily risk for pedestrians
HYDERABAD: The absence of safe pedestrian crossings has turned the Vanasthalipuram–Hayathnagar stretch of the Hyderabad–Vijayawada National Highway 65 into a daily hazard for residents, students and senior citizens.
With high-speed traffic moving round the clock, pedestrians have no access to zebra crossings, pedestrian signals or underpasses. While a foot overbridge (FOB) exists near Auto Nagar, the next designated safe crossing point is nearly 4 km away, forcing people to either walk long distances or cross the highway by jumping barricades or squeezing through gaps in the median.
Locals said the stretch has become accident-prone, with near-misses reported almost every day as two-wheelers, buses and heavy trucks speed through the corridor. “There is no other option. Walking 2 km or 3 km just to cross the road is impossible for elderly people or children. We take the risk because we have to,” said G Naveen, a resident of Vanasthalipuram.
Stray cattle add to risk
Residents said the danger is compounded by stray cattle and animals crossing the highway unpredictably, forcing motorists to brake suddenly and increasing the risk of accidents. They alleged that no concrete steps had been taken to provide basic pedestrian infrastructure such as additional FOBs, underpasses or controlled crossings along the stretch up to Hayathnagar.
Road safety experts said highways passing through densely populated urban areas must incorporate pedestrian-friendly designs. High-speed corridors without safe crossing points in residential zones are a recipe for fatal accidents, they warned.
Responding to the concerns, officials said safety measures were being planned. “Barricades were provided along the median to prevent accidents. For pedestrian safety, we have proposed a foot overbridge near Bhagyalatha Colony. In addition, we will ensure proper pedestrian infrastructure,” a senior official from the Roads and Buildings department said.
