Commuters stuck between dust and delays on the Uppal corridor

The 8-kilometre Uppal–Narapally elevated corridor, set to be the city’s second longest flyover after the PVNR Expressway, promises to ease traffic once complete. For now, however, life along the stretch is defined by dust, slush and disruption.

From Uppal X road onwards, scores of small businesses line the corridor, most of them struggling to cope as roadworks inch forward. Trenches for road widening have eaten into shopfronts, forcing customers to pick their way through uneven stretches. Several traders say that foot traffic has taken a hit.

Mohammed Akbar, who runs a hardware store near Uppal, pointed to the uneven ground outside his shop. “The road is dug up right at the entrance. Customers hesitate to stop here, and during monsoon it is worse. Water collects in the pits and no one wants to step into ankle-deep puddles just to buy nails and paint.”

The status of the road has been the same since as can be seen from this 2019 photograph.
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

“My shop has been here for 15 years, but ever since they dug up the stretch outside, customers, apart from my loyal regulars, hesitate to come. Foot traffic has dropped because people don’t want to park and wade through uneven paths,” said K. Venkatesh, who runs a general store.

Another trader, who owns a textile shop along the corridor, said monsoons make matters worse. “When it rains, the dug-up portions turn into small ponds. Customers simply avoid the area. Waterlogging kills business for weeks together,” he said.

A third shopkeeper, selling furniture, said even the temporary condition is unbearable. “Every time a lorry passes, thick dust settles on my stock. I spend more time cleaning than selling. The project may benefit the city traffic eventually, but right now it’s bleeding us dry.”

For daily commuters, the stretch is a test of patience. Traffic slows during peak hours, and even two-wheelers struggle on the battered road. G. Harish, who rides from Uppal to Ghatkesar every day, said the season only changes the nature of the nuisance. “If it’s not raining, it’s unbearably dusty. If it rains, you are splashing through slush and waterlogging. Either way, it’s the worst road to take.”

The flyover project was launched in 2017 but stalled due to administrative hurdles. It has since regained momentum under the current government. Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy announced earlier this year that the work would be wrapped up within one-and-a-half years. Officials now say the flyover will be ready by Dasara 2026.

Until then, residents and traders along the corridor say they are left with little choice but to put up with the mess, waiting for relief that has already been years in the making.