Aqueel questioned the engineer on site and also contacted senior metro officials, alleging that repeated complaints over the deteriorating condition of the area had gone ignored. “You’ve dug up roads wherever you wanted. It has been three months since I started raising objections, yet there is no relief,” he said, pointing to thick dust and uneven surfaces that have made commuting difficult for residents.
The 8.77-km Subhash Nagar Depot–Karond corridor is being developed with two underground stations and a larger elevated portion. Continuous drilling, pillar construction and tunnel work have slowed movement along the old city’s narrow routes. Daily congestion has frustrated commuters, with several stretches turning accident-prone due to scattered debris and uneven chambers installed above road level.
Aqueel said the uncoordinated work has created “dangerous” conditions for motorists and pedestrians. “People are falling because of these potholes. Barricades are everywhere, but basic movement should not stop,” he remarked. He also accused the Metro Corporation of failing to properly inform residents about scheduled work, contributing to rising dust pollution.
The MLA has written to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, urging the Centre to consider a double-decker bridge in the old city to ease congestion during and after metro construction. According to him, the structure would provide separate levels for metro operations and vehicular traffic while creating scope for parking facilities.
As Phase-II progresses with stations planned at Pul Bogda, Aishbagh, Sindhi Colony, DIG Bungalow, Krishi Upaj Mandi and Karond public dissatisfaction continues to grow. Local residents say traffic jams, crumbling roads and unmanaged construction zones have become daily challenges, prompting Aqueel’s late-night intervention and renewed calls for better oversight.
