Temple visitors disrupt traffic near Banjara Hills Road No. 12

Hyderabad: Traffic at key intersections leading to and away from Road Number 12 of Banjara Hills was thrown out of gear on Monday morning as visitors to the Shri Jagannath Temple parked their cars all along the main road leading to the temple entrance, leaving little space for other commuters.

The worst affected were those travelling from the Jubilee Hills Check Post towards various locations, including Road No. 1 (Banjara Hills), Tolichowki and Shaikpet, via Road No. 10 (Banjara Hills).

Frustrated commuters called on the temple committee to make better parking arrangements.

“The small parking space provided in front of the temple premises is not sufficient. Due to this, people are forced to park on the main road, resulting in traffic jams,” said V. Gayatri, who frequently commutes through the road.

A resident of Singada Kunta on Road No.10 of Banjara Hills said that the traffic menace on the road was a constant source of frustration for commuters.

“I frequently visit the Hare Krishna Golden Temple in Banjara Hills, the Sai Baba Temple located opposite it and the gowshala on the temple premises. I start from Singada Kunta and get stuck at the main road where the compound wall of Shri Jagannath Temple is located due to the cars of temple visitors,” the resident said.

Commuters and passersby said that despite the Integrated Command and Control Centre being located a stone’s throw away, the police failed to do their jobs.

Speaking about the traffic measures, police officials of the west zone said that additional police personnel have been deployed at important junctions, including the one located at the temple. “We have also stopped traffic to facilitate pedestrian movement,” he said.