Home to gated colonies, Venkatapuram lacks basic civic facilities

Hyderabad: Venkatapuram is an example of a town within an urban city, though it comes under the control of the Municipal Corporation.

The growth around West Venkatapuram is due to its proximity to the Kompally dairy farm highway, but the absence of town planning is destroying the entire layout.

From sewerage to drinking water network and internal roads, nothing has been repaired. The construction of independent houses in Venkatapuram with no setbacks is a bad example of urban planning.

Located on the border of Alwal and Lothkunta, Venkatapuram grew from a village into a town and is now part of Greater Hyderabad. It is home to 20-30 colonies and some gated communities, mostly for the middle-income group.

The West Venkatapuram 40 feet main road, after crossing Rosary High School, has been dug up since the last two years. The stretch from Subhoda Nagar Road No. 21 (Auto Stand), up to the MMTS rail line has been cut open.

Mr Prashanth Reddy of Satyamma Nagar Colony says that the BT road after the Murugan temple has disappeared. “Since 2015, the stretch connecting several colonies has been dug up to check pipeline leakages. In between, the metro water sewerage board laid new pipelines, but only in bits and pieces; the road hasn’t been laid so far. Even the alternative roads which we are forced to take are damaged.”

It should be noted that all party candidates in the GHMC election  to promised the road network in their manifestos.

“From 24 x7 public tap to West Venkatapuram last bus stage, the road condition is dangerous. This road is unfit for two and four wheel vehicles and pedestrians. We have been requesting the GHMC commissioner to spare half an hour to visit our colony road. The corporator too has not responded,” added Mr R. Nikhil, a resident.

Even the two bus stops are in bad shape. There is no seating arrangement though a large percentage of the population depends on state transport.

Debris is dumped along all the lanes and bylanes, drains are uncovered and a heavy shower can flood the area. There are no BT roads connecting colonies. Malkajgiri MLA Kanaka Reddy, under whom the area falls, has not visited Venkatapuram since 2015, residents confirmed.

Houses are built close to one another and without any setback as required by municipal building rules and no rainwater harvesting pits have been built. The area has no resident welfare association either.

When questioned, an officer of the Water Board divisional office  said, “Multiple leakages were observed in the old pipeline laid by the gram panchayat. Thus, under Mission Bhagi-ratha, funds was allocated to lay a pipeline 600 mm in diameter and 550 metres long for West Venkatapuram. The Water Board has handed over required funds to the GHMC to lay the new road. Wet mix is being filled from the railway crossing to road number 21. The work will take 10-15 days to complete.”