Now plan on to add 200 more free lefts in Hyderabad

Hyderabad: There are about 150 free left turns across the city of Hyderabad at its various junctions that are not serving any purpose as they are being blocked by motorists who are either going straight or taking a right turn.

While this problem remains unattended, the GHMC, along with officials from the traffic police, are proposing to provide another 200 free left turns.

But traffic and transport experts said the traffic police should first crack the whip on those who block these already existing 150 free left turns, before adding another 200.

“An intensive special drive along the lines of the helmet rule and drunk driving should now be taken up to discipline motorists who are blocking these routes,” said former director-general, Engineering Staff College of India, Dr S. Nagabhushan Rao.

“Free left turns should be provided after proper studies and analysis to ensure that pedestrians are not inconvenienced due to continuous flow of traffic. Poles, trees and transformers act as obstacles at the existing free left turns, which should be relocated on priority,” said Prof. P.R. Bhanu Murthy of JNTU, a traffic and transport expert.

Deputy commissioner of police, traffic, A.V. Ranganath said the new left turns may not be on the existing carriageway. Officials are identifying additional land to construct slip roads that would act as free left turns, he said.