Hi-Tec City is dogged by several problems – from potholed roads to murky water supply – and residents hope the new corporators solve them.

It is considered to represent ‘growth’ and ‘modernity’ of the city, but Hi-Tec City can also take the lead for having a number of civic and social issues. Ahead of the GHMC elections, voters in the IT zone, which includes Madhapur, Kondapur, Gachibowli, Miyapur and adjoining areas, point out that residing in these localities is nothing less than a challenge with a host of issues dogging them everyday.

Not quite appreciative of the previous corporators and local officials of their work, the local population hope that this time around their problems would be solved.

At a time when women’s safety is in the focus, especially in the IT corridor, Divya Tatikonda, a techie and resident of Miyapur, feels some steps are still very much required. “Many wine shops have mushroomed in the Kukatpally and Miyapur area. People standing there create nuisance, and every time I pass through these roads I feel unsafe. Many working women have started avoiding these stretches even though they are on the main road. To make matters worse, there is no proper street lighting near Miyapur bus depot. Once I reach there, I call my husband to head home because I cannot travel alone from there.”

Uneven roads riddled with potholes can top the list of woes of the residents. Be it Gachibowli, Kukatpally or Madhapur where most of IT employees either work or reside, a number of bad roads along these stretches has resulted in increased duration of their journey while causing physical stress.

“There is no playground for the children in the entire area,” said A.V. Reddy, a resident of Gachibowli and Secretary of Botanical Garden Walker’s Association. “This is a fundamental right of the children and the local corporators should immediately develop a playground. The Botanical Garden is not maintained properly and I feel that a part of it can be turned in to a full fledged park for children.”

Mr. Reddy also felt that the sewage system is a shame to the area, and there should be an effort to treat them instead of discharging and polluting nearby lakes.

Vishal Arya, an Art of Living volunteer and a resident of Kothaguda, is upset with the neglect of an initiative of the GHMC. “There are a few green toilets in Madhapur. I was happy when they were set up, and I even took part in some of the Swachh Bharat initiatives. Recently, I went inside one such green toilet and was shocked to find that there was no maintenance here. I found out that even other toilets are in the same state. I would like local leaders to make sure they are useful for public usage or they would just end up occupying space.”

Mr. Arya as well as other residents share that acute water problem is prevalent across these areas in Cyberabad. If some complain about shelling extra money on water tankers, then a few are concerned about the murky water supply in their areas.

Zumba instructor and resident of Madhapur, P. Harika, is annoyed with the open drainage problem. “Every morning when I go to the fitness studio, I come across the sight of overflowing drainage. There are three girls hostel in the lane opposite the petrol bunk and the working employees have to bear the stench. It gets horrible during monsoon. Innumerable complaints by our hostel managements have fallen on deaf ears. I wish the new corporator would understand our problem and addresses it.”