Latest news with #OperationROPE
The Hindu
a day ago
- The Hindu
Drive against footpath encroachments every Saturday
The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation is going to begin a weekly drive against footpath encroachments, especially by the commercial establishments. A circular has been issued to this effect by Commissioner R.V. Karnan on Thursday, which said the drive should be conducted every Saturday. Issued to Zonal and Deputy Commissioners and marked to the Chief City Planner, Additional Chief City Planners, and the City Planners, the circular also directed for the drive to be carried on a minimum of one stretch per circle every week, in a joint operation with the Traffic Police as part of the 'Operation ROPE' (Removal of Obstructive Parking & Encroachments). Under Operation ROPE, a large number of hawkers and vendors are already being removed from the road margins and footpaths. Recently, the displaced hawkers conducted a demonstration in front of the GHMC corporate office, demanding that the harassment be stopped. MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, during a meeting, raised this issue and questioned if the GHMC wanted the vendors to become pickpockets. Officials assure that the new phase will not target the vendors but the commercial entities which occupied footpaths to install their extensions such as steps, sign boards, kiosks, poles and other such impediments. They are invoking the powers of the GHMC Commissioner under Section 405 to remove obstructions on the street, drain, channel etc. The objective is stated as having ease of traffic movement and facilitating pedestrian movement on footpaths. This is not the first time GHMC is taking up such a drive. A similar drive was taken up after establishment of Enforcement, Vigilance & Disaster Management wing as part of GHMC, in 2018. Armed with excavator machinery, the EVDM personnel destroyed not mere sign boards, but even the ramps and steps built onto the road & footpath portions. However, no attempt was made to build footpaths or roads on the reclaimed space. After a while, the shop owners rebuilt the steps or started using iron ladders instead.
Hans India
a day ago
- Automotive
- Hans India
Hyderabad Traffic Update: 91 Lakh Vehicles on Roads Daily, Police Plan New Steps
People in Hyderabad face traffic every day, from 6 in the morning to midnight. The roads are full of vehicles, and the number is very high. Police Commissioner C.V. Anand said that around 91 lakh vehicles move on the roads in Greater Hyderabad each weekday. Traffic Speed Has Improved Last year, the average speed of vehicles in the city was 17 to 18 km/h. Now, it has gone up to 24 to 25 km/h. This has happened because of the hard work by the Hyderabad Traffic Police. A special project called Operation ROPE has helped and will become even stronger. More Vehicles and VIP Traffic About 1,600 new vehicles are added to the roads every day. Even with so many vehicles, VIP traffic is now handled better. The Chief Minister asked that traffic should not be stopped for long during his travel, and this made things better. Better Signals and Fewer Fines Today, 80% of traffic signals in the city run on auto mode. This helps traffic move faster. The traffic police are now focusing more on important rule-breaking, not just giving many fines. Because of this, the number of traffic fines has come down. Using Technology and New Staff The police are using drone cameras to watch traffic from above. They are also working with Google to get help with traffic maps and data. There are not enough traffic workers, so they will add Traffic Marshals. These will be new helpers trained to manage traffic. Support from Transgenders and Rainy Season Plans Some transgender people are working as traffic helpers, and the police say they are doing a great job. The police are also getting ready for the rainy season, working together with GHMC and HMRL to solve problems like water on roads. Private Buses Causing Trouble The police said private travel buses are also creating traffic problems. A meeting will be held with bus owners, and the police will take action to fix this issue.
Time of India
28-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
No right to walk: 60% of Hyderabad lacks footpaths, risks pedestrians' safety
Damaged footpath forces pedestrian to walk dangerously close to moving traffic HYDERABAD: Hyderabad might be an IT hub, but even a basic task like walking remains a herculean challenge, with footpaths missing from over 60% of the city. According to the Telangana Socio-Economic Outlook 2024, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has a road network spanning over 9,000 km, comprising 2,846 km of blacktop roads and 6,167 km of cement concrete stretches. However, official records show that footpaths under GHMC and the Comprehensive Road Maintenance Programme (CRMP) extend to only 1,039 km. When comparing footpath coverage to blacktop roads, which serve as primary thoroughfares, only 36% of the city provides adequate pavements — denying denizens their fundamental 'right to walk.' 'After getting down at Panjagutta metro station, I tried walking towards Banjara Hills. Even covering 2 km seems impossible as there are no footpaths,' said Sandeep Kumar, who works at a private pharma firm. Only 160 km footpath in IT hub As per official records, the western corridor — encompassing Serilingampally and Kukatpally zones — has merely 162 km of footpaths out of the city-wide 1,039 km network. What's more concerning is the imbalance in GHMC-maintained footpath distribution, with 536 km of total coverage unevenly split: 206 km on the right side and 329 km on the left side of roads. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tukarkan Bitcoin dan Ethereum - Tanpa Dompet Diperlukan! IC Markets MULAI SEKARANG Undo In fact, even the existing footpaths are in poor shape. Along any busy stretch in Hyderabad — whether it's Moosapet–Erragadda, Film Nagar–Jubilee Hills, Paradise– Secunderabad railway station, — it is extremely difficult to walk even 100 metres without encountering obstacles. This is particularly challenging for theelderly and schoolchildren. To add to this, a majority of pavements are encroached upon by street vendors, shopkeepers, and unauthorised parking. Additionally, the uneven and damaged condition of many footpaths forces people to walk on the roads. The situation is especially dire in areas like Tarnaka, where there are no footpaths at all, leaving pedestrians with no choice but to risk their safety by walking on the road. A couple of weeks ago, the Supreme Court directed states to frame guidelines to ensure proper footpaths for pedestrians, stating that having unobstructed and disabled-friendly footpaths is part of a citizen's fundamental rights. The court noted that in the absence of proper footpaths, pedestrians are forced to walk on roads — a serious matter of concern. 'Will reclaim walking spaces' 'We have initiated Operation ROPE (Removal of Obstructive Parking and Encroachments) to restore pedestrian walkways in the city. Working alongside traffic police, we conduct targeted campaigns to clear footpath obstructions. We remove temporary impediments that create difficulties for the public. These efforts will help reduce traffic congestion and reclaim walking spaces for pedestrians,' said a senior official from GHMC's town planning wing. Times view: It may not be possible to make Hyderabad walkable overnight, but the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation can identify a few key stretches in the city and put in place basic infrastructure to start with. Encroachment and pothole-free footpaths is the bare minimum that can be provided. Municipal authorities must realise that as residents become increasingly aware of health and environmental issues, they will see walking as a right, as the first step towards sustainable living. Preempting this demand is good governance. HUMTA plans continuous footpaths To improve access to bus stops, rail terminals, and metro stations, the Hyderabad Unified Metropolitan Transport Authority (HUMTA) has decided to create seamless pavements around Ameerpet, Begumpet, Nampally, and Secunderabad. These uninterrupted walkways will enable commuters to reach their destinations without stepping onto the roads or taking detours. As part of a multi-modal integration plan, HUMTA will construct footpaths extending 500 metres to 1 km, along with dedicated parking facilities for two-wheelers. There are also plans to implement a public bicycle-sharing system, allowing commuters to hire bicycles via a mobile app for convenient last-mile connectivity. 'Our objective is to establish an effective and smooth transit system for passengers. By integrating various transportation hubs and developing suitable infrastructure, we can reduce traffic congestion, support sustainable travel options, and improve the city's transport network. Moreover, the areas nearby will become more conducive for people travelling on foot,' said B Jeevan Babu, managing director, HUMTA. 400 pedestrians killed on Hyderabad roads in 2024 Owing to the lack of access to footpaths — coupled with inadequate zebra crossings, stop lines, and pelican signals — the city has recorded more than 1,000 accidents involving pedestrians. Police records show that Greater Hyderabad registered as many as 1,032 pedestrian-related accidents, resulting in 400 deaths and at least 775 injuries. The total pedestrian deaths in 2023 and 2024 have now surpassed the 700 mark. Road safety experts point out that Hyderabad's road infrastructure primarily caters to motorists, neglecting pedestrian needs. They also note that the recent removal of U-turns across the city has led to wrong-way driving, further endangering pedestrians. 'The elimination of U-turns has created safety concerns for pedestrians, as many motorists resort to wrong-side driving to avoid lengthy detours. The footpaths constructed in certain areas seem to prioritise aesthetics over functionality and safety standards. Moreover, the city suffers from a shortage of pelican signals' said Vinod Kanumala, a road safety expert. Defunct elevators, escalators cause inconvenience Pedestrians are also facing challenges using foot-over bridges (FOBs) due to non-functioning elevators and escalators. As a result, these structures have become largely unusable in high-traffic areas, due to inadequate maintenance by the civic body and private agencies responsible for their upkeep. Dysfunctional lifts at FOBs in busy areas including Gachibowli, ECIL, Erragadda, Dilsukhnagar, and Tarnaka are causing inconvenience to pedestrians. Moreover, FOBs built near GVK One Mall, RC Puram, and Uppal Stadium have remained unused for a long time. The lack of timely repairs is forcing pedestrians to cross roads amidst heavy traffic. While GHMC has constructed over 50 FOBs across its jurisdiction to aid pedestrian movement, many of these facilities frequently face issues with non-functional elevators and escalators. Although GHMC previously announced plans to construct 30 more FOBs, there has been hardly any progress. 'There is a need for proper maintenance of FOBs by civic authorities to ensure safe and accessible infrastructure for pedestrians. When these crucial structures are neglected, it not only puts public safety at risk but also diminishes people's confidence in the administration's ability to manage public infrastructure,' said Harish Daga, a social activist.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- The Hindu
Street vendors knock on GHMC's door against harassment
Street vendors from across the city arrived at the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation's grievance redressal platform 'Prajavani' on Monday, with complaints against removal of pushcarts by the police, and non-implementation of the The Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014. The 30 to 40 street vendors who arrived at the GHMC headquarters were representing hawkers from several areas, including Ameerpet, Dilsukhnagar, Kothapet, Saroornagar, Dilsukhnagar, Dammaiguda, Secunderabad and several others. They complained about Operation ROPE (Removal of Obstructive Parking & Encroachments) by the Traffic Police, which has majorly impacted the livelihood of the pushcart vendors. In the name of the operation, the police were removing and destroying the pushcarts, they said. Despite shifting to the lanes and bylanes, the vendors got no respite, and the police continued to impose fines and take away the weights, balances, and commodities as a threat, they said. 'Very recently, they deployed earthmovers to destroy the pushcarts near Saroornagar Rythu Bazar. The action was taken without any notice, and about 80 vendors were affected by it. They have had no work for the past few days. How will they live?' questioned Shree, Director of the Informal Labourers and Workers Federation, who led the delegation along with the National Hawkers Federation. The Street Vendors Act, 2014 exists only on paper, with a large number of vendors having the cards issued by GHMC, but not allotted any vending space, she complained. Two vendors each were selected from various locations of the city, to represent the issue, said. About four to five vendors were allowed inside the Prajavani programme to air their grievance, while all others were made to stay outside. Meanwhile, two children from Moosapet were brought to the Prajavani programme with a request for development of a colony park. Space allocated for park in Anjaneyanagar colony was encroached, and was cleared by the authorities, but ₹50 lakh sanctioned earlier for development of the park has not been released, they said. A total 62 complaints were received at the GHMC headquarters, while 104 complaints came through the programme conducted at the six zonal headquarters, a statement from GHMC informed. Majority were complaints pertaining to the Town Planning department.
