Real-life Temple Run in Pakistan: PKR 1 billion road turns into real-life obstacle course as cars dodge 50 live electric poles; watch video

A newly constructed 1.6-km dual carriageway in Hyderabad, Pakistan, has drawn attention after videos showed electricity poles standing in the middle of the road, forcing motorists to steer around them. The unusual layout has triggered criticism of infrastructure planning, with footage shared on social media showing cars navigating the obstructions. The road is part of three infrastructure projects worth a combined Rs 1.06 billion and connects Hyderabad's bypass with Qasim Chowk road, Dawn reported.

The poles carry high-tension electricity lines originating near the 132-kV grid station in Qasimabad, which supplies power to a substantial part of Hyderabad. Videos showing the road lined with these structures began circulating on social media a few days before the latest clip attracted more than 87,000 views on X.

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Why are electricity poles standing in the middle of Hyderabad's new road?

The road connects Alamdar Chowk with the old National Highway near Qasim Chowk in Sindh province. Its construction was taken up in an area that had previously remained largely abandoned before the road project was approved.

The development work and the relocation of electricity infrastructure were being undertaken simultaneously, leaving several power poles along the carriageway. The situation prompted questions about how the road could be opened to traffic before all the obstructions were removed.


Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah said the government had completed the road and restored traffic to put pressure on the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO) to shift the electricity poles. He alleged that the utility had failed to complete the relocation despite receiving funds for the work.

Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Zainul Abedin Memon said the road had not been formally opened and that barricades and warning signs had been installed to restrict public access. However, commuters continued to use the stretch despite the restrictions.

Power company explains why the poles are still in the road

HESCO spokesperson Sadiq Kubar told Dawn the 132-kV Qasimabad grid station near Alamdar Chowk supplies electricity through 27 feeders. Of these, 24 pass through the area where the road has been constructed.

He said 22 of the 27 feeders had been transferred to new poles and energised, while work on the remaining five was still pending. The spokesperson also explained that 100 high-transmission lines needed to be relocated as part of the exercise.

According to Kubar, 50 of these lines were positioned in the area before the road project was planned. Their relocation involved an expenditure of Rs 79 million. He said these 50 poles had been removed from the road, while another set of poles remained near the grid station.

Officials said 97 electricity poles had been shifted by October 28, with the remaining structures expected to be relocated by November 10.

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Hyderabad road part of three projects worth Rs 1.06 billion

The 1.6-km dual carriageway is one of three road development projects with a combined estimated cost of Rs 1.06 billion. The newly built stretch is a significant addition to Hyderabad's road network, connecting the city's bypass with Qasim Chowk road.

The project has nevertheless come under scrutiny because electricity infrastructure was still present along the route after the road was constructed. The competing timelines for road development and the relocation of power lines have become the focus of the online criticism.