Hyderabad residents raise alarm as encroachments choke public roads and lakes
Residents across Hyderabad have raised urgent alarms over a series of encroachments blocking public infrastructure and threatening environmental assets in key urban localities. From sealed-off colony roads in Kondapur and Shantinagar to park and lake takeovers in Dulapally and Gajularamaram, locals have reported their grievances to the Hyderabad Road Development Authority and Allied Agencies (HYDRAA). Officials have begun reviewing 61 such complaints, confirming that investigations and action plans are underway to restore access and protect community resources from private encroachment.
In Kondapur, a 40-feet road near a prominent apartment complex has been fully obstructed, cutting off entry to a neighbourhood park. Locals further alleged that private property owners have narrowed another 40-feet road by nearly seven feet, severely hampering daily commutes. Residents of Shantinagar Housing Society reported the complete closure of a 60-feet public road sanctioned in the approved layout plan, leaving hundreds disconnected. These blockades have not only violated city planning norms but have also created hazards for pedestrians, emergency vehicles, and school transport operating in the area. Elsewhere in Gajularamaram and Dulapally, residents have raised alarm over the systematic occupation of government land and public parks. Locals claim that over 271 acres of state-owned land in Gajularamaram are under threat from land grabbers, some allegedly aided by residents.
In Dulapally, only two out of four parks reserved under a 1967 layout remain accessible. The remaining two are reportedly under illegal occupation by descendants of the original landowners. The loss of open spaces has impacted children and senior citizens, while also eroding ecological resilience in industrialised zones. Environmental threats have also emerged around Pedda Cheruvu, a key lake in Mettukani Gudem, where nearly 6 acres of the lakebed have allegedly been encroached upon. Fishermen warned that diverted water channels have drained the lake, endangering their livelihood and increasing the risk of further land conversion. These complaints reflect a broader urban crisis where unchecked real estate development and institutional apathy are pushing shared community spaces to the brink of disappearance.
HYDRAA officials have confirmed using satellite imagery and Google Maps to verify each grievance. Authorities have promised ground inspections and enforcement actions to reclaim encroached infrastructure and natural assets. As Hyderabad continues to urbanise, such proactive steps will be critical in safeguarding inclusive mobility, environmental protection, and equitable urban access for all citizens.
