Hyderabad: Morning walkers, joggers and cyclists on Necklace Road are reportedly being harassed by unruly motorists performing dangerous stunts on two-wheelers and cars. The trouble is more on Sundays when gangs of teenagers from neighbouring residential areas throng the place.
“It could be because it is Ramzan and youngsters wake up early for ‘sehri’ and rush out on motorcycles afterwards. Groups from several pockets of the city congregate and indulge in rash driving and harassment,” complained Mr Syed Tanveer, a resident of MS Maktha and a regular walk.
The rash driving of underaged drivers scares those out for a spot of exercise. “We encounter youngsters speeding on bikes and attempting to run us off the road, yelling at us and even passing lewd comments on men and women. The road is closed for a couple of hours on Sundays for cyclist and joggers. Yet, the youngsters make their way there and create trouble,” complained Dr Chandrasekhar Ramenini, who runs regularly on Necklace Road. He said the problem had increased after Ramzan began.
Dr Madhumathi, another regular to Necklace Road, said that while the youngsters were creating trouble for the public, there was no sight of a policeman. “Small kids were cycling in the bicycling area and the bikers were zooming around on the wrong side of the road. It happened for about two hours,” she complained.
Necklace Road regular Amit Kumar was worried about the area gaining notoriety for rowdy behavior of the youngsters.
The Necklace Road is not the only spot where such activity is witnessed, group of youngsters make merry post midnight on the flyovers at Langer Houz and Tolichowki too.
“On Friday midnight, on way to Attapur, a group of youngsters were speeding and fell on road after hitting a divider. Luckily, they sustained minor injuries. I think youngsters make merry on the roads after the extra nightly prayers to kill time till the sehri meal,” said social activist Ilyas Shamshi.
Mr Mubeen Ahmed, an IT employee from Tolichowki, said that the stretch between Tolichowki and Gachibowli during the late night hours has become a track for drag racing. “To be frank, the menace has started after the start of the month of Ramzan, with the youngsters having ample time in the night,” he said.
Lake police inspector K. Sridevi said a patrol car and four teams of Blue Colts patrol the stretch round the clock. “Such instances have not come to our notice. On Sunday morning, there was an environmental run organised on the stretch and there were policemen around. However, we will conduct strict checking in the mornings and realign the barricades,” the official said.
