Hyderabad, India – In a bizarre and frustrating twist, a key flyover in Hyderabad, meant to relieve traffic congestion, recently stunned commuters by resembling more of a "swimming pool" than an elevated road. The unusual scene of vehicles plowing through deep water atop the flyover has sparked outrage, raised eyebrows, and prompted urgent demands for accountability.
The incident unfolded after just a moderate spell of rain. Social media was soon flooded with viral videos and photos, showing cars and two-wheelers struggling through ankle- to knee-deep water—on an elevated structure supposedly designed for efficient drainage. Some vehicles stalled entirely, leaving drivers stranded mid-flyover.
"It was unbelievable," said Rakesh Kumar, a daily commuter caught in the chaos. "You expect waterlogging on the streets below—not on a flyover! It felt more like driving through a canal."
Flyovers are built to bypass ground-level traffic and must include well-designed drainage systems to handle rainwater. This incident has led many to question the engineering, construction quality, and ongoing maintenance of the structure involved.
- Inadequate Drainage Systems: The most likely cause is poor drainage infrastructure. This could involve too few drain inlets, under-capacity drainage lines, or blockages caused by debris, plastic, or silt buildup.
- Improper Gradient or Slope: If the flyover wasn’t designed with the correct slope, water won’t flow off efficiently—leading to pooling.
- Clogged Outfalls: Even if drainage on the flyover is functional, if the exit points (outfalls) are blocked, water has nowhere to go and backs up onto the road.
- Poor Construction Quality: Substandard materials or sloppy workmanship during construction could also have led to early system failures.
City authorities have taken note. Officials from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) have confirmed that a formal probe is underway. “We are taking this matter very seriously,” a GHMC spokesperson said. “Teams are actively inspecting the site to find out what went wrong. We’ll take corrective action immediately.”
This incident underscores a major concern in urban development—the lack of attention to long-term infrastructure resilience. In a city like Hyderabad, where monsoons are a seasonal norm, such failures can’t be brushed aside. As the city grows and expands its network of flyovers and underpasses, it's critical to ensure they’re built to withstand nature’s challenges.
For now, residents can only hope that this episode serves as a wake-up call, and that future flyovers truly serve their purpose—keeping traffic flowing smoothly above water, not through it.
