Gangadhar Tilak Katnam, a retired railway engineer in his seventies, is widely known across Telangana as Hyderabad’s “Road Doctor.” In 2010, while driving through the city, Katnam hit a severe pothole; immediately behind him, a school bus swerved violently to avoid the crater, nearly losing control. Realizing that neglected road hazards pose a daily threat to human lives, Katnam made a firm decision: he would no longer wait for municipal authorities to act.
Mobile Road Repair Unit
Rather than filing endless administrative complaints, Katnam took matters into his own hands. He loaded the trunk of his Maruti 800 with cold mix asphalt, gravel, cement, and manual shovels, turning his personal vehicle into a mobile road repair unit. Funding the operation entirely out of his ₹23,000 monthly pension and personal savings, he began filling potholes wherever he encountered them during daily drives.
Over the years, Katnam quit his post-retirement software job to dedicate himself entirely to road safety. Working under boiling summer temperatures, he systematically repaired craters across high-traffic corridors in Madhapur and central Hyderabad. To date, he has personally repaired over 2,000 potholes, spending over ₹20 lakh of his own money to keep commuters safe.
Family Support at Home
Katnam’s relentless mission was made possible through the unwavering support of his wife, Venkateshwari Katnam. Initially concerned about his health and the strain on their household pension, she quickly recognized his deep commitment to saving lives. Rather than holding him back, Venkateshwari chose to stand by his side, frequently accompanying him on repair trips, helping pack materials into the car, and joining him on the roadside to mix asphalt and clear debris. Her quiet encouragement turned a solitary pursuit into a shared family cause.
Building a Community Movement
Recognizing that a single couple could not repair thousands of broken city roads alone, Katnam established Shramadaan (Voluntary Labour). The initiative operates on a simple premise: citizens identify local road hazards and gather during weekends to fix them collectively.
Through Shramadaan, Katnam and Venkateshwari mobilized hundreds of student volunteers, software professionals, and local residents. By transforming individual frustration into organized civic action, the movement handled thousands of citizen complaints, proving that local communities possess the power to safeguard their own neighborhood infrastructure.
Official Recognition and Partnership
Katnam’s persistent, high-quality repair work eventually gained national media attention and official recognition. Impressed by his cost-effective methods, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) formally partnered with Katnam, supplying free raw materials and asphalt mix to aid his repair drives.
Instead of operating in opposition to civic authorities, Katnam created a collaborative model where active citizens and municipal agencies work together to resolve last-mile infrastructure issues efficiently.
Preserving Roads for City Safety
Beyond active pothole repairs, Katnam’s team educates urban drivers and local authorities on road safety and preventative road maintenance. By identifying drainage flaws and structural cracks before monsoon rains worsen road erosion, Shramadaan protects motorists from life-threatening accidents. This proactive community surveillance ensures long-term road durability across Hyderabad while inspiring citizens nationwide to take direct ownership of their neighborhood infrastructure.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Gangadhar Tilak Katnam’s fifteen-year crusade highlights the transformative power of civic responsibility in urban India. In a country where thousands lose their lives annually to preventable road defects, Katnam’s refusal to turn a blind eye has saved countless lives. His work serves as a reminder that when citizens take ownership of public spaces and work alongside local governance, safer and more resilient cities become possible.
How can municipal corporations systematically integrate citizen-led initiatives like Shramadaan into official road maintenance frameworks?
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