Residents of Sitaphalmandi, Mylargadda and surrounding areas have been facing problems due to the way alcohol is being consumed during the day in front of wine shops or in autorickshaws and tempos parked on the main road, thus vitiating the atmosphere and causing traffic jams.
Women are worst affected as they are reluctant to venture out at night at Mylargadda. Sunitha Devi, 34, a garment shop owner, said that she often closes her shop early as buying groceries in these areas at night “has become difficult for us due to the presence of these drunkards”. Working women have also stopped taking these routes, travelling an additional distance to reach home. Mylargadda busstop is close to these wine shops and women have been avoiding using it. Same is the case with the Sitaphalmandi busstop. Navdeep Singh picks up his wife from the Secunderabad station everyday to avoid untoward incidents.
Residents attribute the entrenchment of the habit to leniency on the part of wine shop owners. Shrikan-th Dubey, 50, a Mylargadda resident, said though complaints had been made at the Chilkalguda police station, no action was taken.