Telangana Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development, KT Rama Rao, on Tuesday admitted that the condition of roads in Hyderabad were not up to the mark.
For over a month, residents of Hyderabad have been complaining about the crumbling roads in the city, which get washed away with the rains.
Potholes, cave-ins and waterlogging, have made the roads downright dangerous, risking the life of commuters.
KTR was speaking at a programme, where Intel chief Nivruti Rai, said that Hyderabad's roads were beautiful as she observed them from her drive from the airport to the venue, Deccan Chronicle reported.
The DC report adds that KTR responded with humour when he took the stage, and said that some sections of the audience were looking at each other in disbelief after the praise of Hyderabad’s roads.
"I am not ashamed to say that the situation of roads in Hyderabad is bad. People are living under tough conditions. I am well aware of the condition of roads and how they are posing problems to the citizens. Don’t think because I have an escort, I am being guided over an elevated corridor. I also travel on the same roads and I know how bumpy the ride is," the Minister was quoted as saying.
“I know that I am not the most popular person in Hyderabad at the moment. I am not going to beat around the bush, but admit that we have to improve our infrastructure. We have a long way to go. But please bear with me. We are trying and we are trying our best. We will work to get the roads better,” he added.
Earlier this week, heavy rains in Hyderabad resulted in yet another massive sinkhole being formed, as a road caved in at Jayanagar in Kukatpally.
According to reports, the sinkhole was five-feet deep and the result of a pipeline leak.
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) said that, a 200-mm pipeline on the road to Allwyn Colony was damaged and a nearby 600-mm pipeline had choked, which led to water leakage, and eventually the road cave-in.
Last month, a portion of the road at Tarbund Crossroads gave in, resulting in a massive traffic jam in the area.
No injuries were reported as there were no commuters near the crater at the time.