Silt and Poor Lighting on Barkas-Pahadi Shareef Road Spark Safety Concerns

Accumulated silt and inadequate street lighting on the busy Barkas-Pahadi Shareef road have raised serious safety concerns among local residents and daily commuters, who warn that the poor conditions pose a severe hazard to motorists, especially two-wheeler riders.

The stretch falls under the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and experiences heavy traffic throughout the day. The route is widely used by commuters and visitors travelling towards the Baba Sharfuddin Dargah at Pahadishareef, as well as those heading towards the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport.

Local residents stated that improper and irregular sweeping along the route has allowed a thick layer of silt to build up across sections of the carriageway. The accumulated sand and dust increase the risk of two-wheelers losing traction and skidding.

"The road is not being swept properly and silt is accumulated on the carriageway. Two-wheeler riders are the worst affected as their vehicles can skid suddenly. The civic authorities should take immediate steps to clear the silt," said Tabrez Khan, a local resident.

The hazard is further intensified by inadequate lighting at key junctions and sharp curves along the stretch. Motorists navigating the road after dark face reduced visibility, giving them limited time to spot obstacles, negotiate bends, or react to oncoming traffic.

Moizeuddin, another resident, highlighted the dangers posed by the dark stretches. "There are sharp curves and important junctions on the Barkas-Pahadi Shareef road, but lighting is inadequate at several places. During the night, motorists struggle to clearly see the road and approaching vehicles. This can easily lead to accidents," he said.

Residents noted that the area was previously administered by the Jalpally municipality before being merged into the GHMC. However, they pointed out that basic civic maintenance on the key corridor has remained insufficient despite the change in administrative jurisdiction.

To prevent potential road accidents, residents have urged the GHMC to carry out regular mechanical and manual sweeping to remove the silt, alongside installing and repairing streetlights at vulnerable bends and junctions along the entire route.