Traffic congestion eases in Madhuranagar after HYDRAA removes iron railings on drain

Hyderabad: Traffic bottlenecks in Madhuranagar have finally eased with the removal of iron railings along the box drain stretch.

The intervention by Hyderabad Disaster Response and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA) has widened the carriageway, ending a long-standing problem for commuters and residents alike.

How railings became a roadblock

What was meant as a safety measure gradually turned into a nuisance.

Years ago, the open stormwater canal running through Madhuranagar was converted into a box drain and covered with concrete slabs.

Railings were installed on top, but instead of streamlining movement, they obstructed traffic. Vehicles were parked along both sides of the railing, and two-wheelers squeezed through narrow gaps, causing chaos. Outsider vehicles, including taxis, frequently blocked the road, and school buses and ambulances struggled to pass during rush hours.

Residents’ pleas finally heard

For more than a decade, locals bore the brunt of the congestion. Repeated appeals to traffic police yielded little change. Eventually, residents submitted complaints and photographs of the situation to HYDRAA through its grievance portal.

Officials inspected the location, confirmed the drain slabs were strong enough, and approved the removal of the 900-metre-long, 5-foot-wide railing.

Clear passage at last

With the railings gone, parking space on either side of the drain has vanished, automatically freeing up the road. The wider stretch now allows smooth passage of buses, emergency vehicles, and regular traffic. For the first time in years, peak-hour movement has become hassle-free.

Residents marked the occasion with celebrations, crediting both HYDRAA engineers and the state government for acting swiftly.