Roads turn to pools: Manikonda residents question Municipality's delays in project

Manikonda: Residents of Laxmi Priya Colony in Manikonda are voicing their frustration over significant delays in the construction of a new road project under the Manikonda Municipality. Despite assurances from officials that work would commence earlier last month, no progress has been made, leaving residents in a state of confusion and inconvenience.

On September 13, 2024, the official handle of Manikonda Municipality issued a statement clarifying that “The work is allotted to the contractor. The adjacent road was laid, but due to continuous rains, it could not be taken up. It will be taken up shortly.”

The Laxmi Priya Colony RWA took to X (formerly Twitter), posting, “@ManikondaMc, @SanduguSan61630. It has been months since the road from Ibaco to Suha Apartments has been at a standstill. Just laying a foundation stone by our MLA doesn’t bring any results.”

Speaking with the Hyderabad Mail, Karthik Jammulapati, a resident of Manikonda, expressed his dismay, stating, “Though the Municipality clarified on September 13, no action has been taken since then. The current state of the roads is deplorable filled with rainwater and emitting a foul smell. We can’t even breathe properly. Living here has become unbearable; walking through these pathetic roads and driving has turned into a nightmare.”

He further noted, “Even after a month of assurances from the Municipality, nothing has changed. The road has become a pool. We have contacted the councillor and the municipality team but received no response. Despite continuous follow-ups, the work has not started. Even our MLA came and laid a foundation stone near the pool area, but the allocated Rs. 48 lakhs has yet to result in any action.”

Another resident, Prashanth, added, “I live near Ibaco, where it has now turned into a pool area. For the past two weeks, the pit has been filled with drainage water, and no action has been taken.”

Earlier reports stated that road work commenced on August 1, 2024, and was completed up to Ibaco by August 18. However, several tasks remain unfinished, including fixing manholes, cleaning debris, and completing the remaining road segment.

According to Karthik, the Manikonda Municipality’s engineering department stated that one contractor completed work from Sri Sai Residency to Ibaco, while another contractor is responsible for the remaining portion.

Karthik explained that residents have faced significant struggles due to the road’s previous state, which was damaged during infrastructure projects last year. In March 2024, they launched a campaign titled "No Road, No Tax" to draw attention to their plight. While their efforts led to some initial progress, the recent halt in construction has reignited their concerns.