Hyderabad: Hyderabad’s iconic Tank Bund continues to attract thousands of visitors every day. But the lack of basic traffic safety measures along the Hussain Sagar stretch has raised concerns over pedestrian safety and the risk of accidents.
The Tank Bund road witnesses heavy movement of cars, two‑wheelers and pedestrians, particularly in the evenings and at night. However, the absence of adequate bollards, zebra‑crossing signs and reflective road studs leaves motorists and pedestrians to negotiate the busy road with limited guidance. The entire stretch does not have dividers or bollards, giving way to erratic drivers making their way through lanes of oncoming traffic. The situation worsens during peak hours, with drivers spilling into opposite lanes and blocking both sides of the road.
Visibility is another major issue. The dividers near Hussainsagar’s NTR Gardens have been painted in dark colours, making them difficult to spot, particularly at night. Without adequate reflective markings, radium strips or studs, motorists may not notice the dividers until they are dangerously close. Several stretches along Tank Bund and the Hussainsagar road are also poorly lit, with street lights not functioning or remaining switched off.
Pedestrians add to the risks by attempting to cross the road at random points. With vehicles moving at speed, such crossings can prove dangerous, particularly after dark. Despite a functional foot‑over bridge outside NTR Gardens, people often jump over high dividers to reach the other side. Motorists also park vehicles along the road, narrowing the carriageway and disrupting traffic flow. Two‑wheeler riders driving erratically at night further increase the chances of collisions.
The dangers were tragically underscored on Sunday when a six‑year‑old girl, Sarakshi, who had come to Tank Bund with her family to celebrate her birthday, was killed along with a relative after a speeding lorry hit them in the early hours. Domalguda police said the accident occurred around 2.30 am when Viswanath, 41, carrying Sarakshi, was crossing the road near Hussainsagar. A lorry coming from Secunderabad struck them, killing the child on the spot and fatally injuring Viswanath, who later died at Gandhi Hospital.
The combination of dark stretches, poorly visible dividers, parked vehicles and pedestrians crossing unpredictably has created dangerous, even deadly, conditions along Tank Bund. The fatal accident has renewed calls for urgent safety measures to prevent further tragedies on one of Hyderabad’s busiest and most popular stretches.
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