Nishar Mohammed & Vikramaditya
Sri Vijaya Puram, July 29: Frustrated residents of Ward No. 4 in Teylerabad gathered today to stage a sit-in protest, launching a stark warning of a possible “chakka jam” (road blockade) if their longstanding demands are not addressed immediately.
During the protest several villagers articulated the community’s deep distress. “Water lines, road surface, streetlights—nothing exists. It’s been over 11 to 12 years since this road was last repaired. Despite repeated letters to authorities since 2023, no official has even come to inspect,” said Priyanka Halder, a villager. “During rains, the road turns into a complete swamp. Children struggle to walk, and families have to wade through knee-deep water. We often film the conditions and share in groups, but no one responds. Women still try to walk through it, but nothing changes.”
Another protester, Pramila Devi, lamented: “Twenty years have passed since the road was built—without proper drainage or maintenance, it has deteriorated completely. Rainwater floods homes. Despite numerous complaints, no one has come to inspect. There is no streetlighting, no piped water, and school children face immense difficulty walking after dark with just torches. Even auto-rickshaws and ambulances refuse entry; they fear vehicle damage in emergency situations.”
Many residents emphasized the severity of the crisis facing the roughly 50 to 80 households in the area. Overflow from stagnant drainage has led to repeated indoor flooding. A former local school bus stop now stands unused as even public transport avoids entering the road zone. “Emergency services cannot reach us,” they said. “Pregnant women and the elderly must be carried out. Gas cylinder vehicles avoid coming inside for months at a time. None of our representatives—Panchayat members, ward members, or officials—have visited.”
Mr. Senthil, another resident, added: “I don’t understand why there is such delay—even areas like New Bumbultan have well maintained roads and prompt repairs. Uprooting and patching here is treated as enough, but these potholes return soon. There’s no clue why this road remains uncared for while funds exist elsewhere.”
Local Zilla Parishad member, Mrs. Sarika Devi, confirmed the seriousness of the issue. “This is not a new complaint. In 2015 the road was built. In 2022, estimates for repair stood at ₹1.57 crore, now it has risen above ₹2 crore. Our district receives only ₹2–3 crore funds at maximum, and with 18 members to service, it’s distributed thinly. I, along with our MP and council leadership, have petitioned for better funding to meet the needs of people here. We even provided an NOC to PWD to proceed with construction.”
Mrs. Sarika Devi urged, “Let’s at least repair this road so people can commute. We have written letters to Chief Secretary and submitted official requests. Our MP demonstrated outside the Raj Niwas, yet even that did not yield results. Through the media I appeal again: please escalate this issue so even partial repair can enable daily travel—be it school children, elderly, or ration deliveries.”
With nearly 850 meters of damaged, impassable surface, residents stress that this road is essential for basic access—without fix, the area remains cut off, suffering daily hardship. The protest organizers demand immediate governmental action or risk escalation to blocking road access entirely to force prompt attention.
