Hyderabad: In the 2009 Telugu grosser Maghadheera, hero Ram Charan rode a horse across the streets of Hyderabad to catch up with his lady love. Years later, a few techies have brought out the horses again, but for a different purpose - to commute to office across the city's potholed roads.
Choreographed as a novel form of protest against the horrible condition of the roads, the IT professionals rode horseback through the stretch of roads in the Financial District area which have been dug up for "white-topping".
The protesters argued that the repairs during monsoon months, without providing alternate routes, caused hardship to tens of thousands of employees at IT companies in Cyberabad area.
"A normal commute used to take 30 minutes, now it takes more than two hours. Our conveyance allowances run out a few days into the month," said Ramanjeet Singh who organised the protest.
"We pay taxes for better roads and not to suffer on roads. It's difficult to understand whether there are potholes on roads or roads on potholes," said Uma Mahesh, another protester.
White-topping is the overlaying of cement concrete on tarred roads to make them last longer, but the protesters said the process was uncalled for at this time of the year.
"This road would have lasted at least five years more. Doing this now is highly irresponsible," said Anumod Thomas, who works in Cyberabad.
The Greater Hyderabad Muncipal Corporation responded to the protest by saying emergency teams were out to help commuters.
The techies said the rented horses were returned after a couple of hours and that no traffic rules were broken as it was only a token ride. But the point, it seems, was made.
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