Hyderabad: Techies turn to streets to ease traffic blocks

Hyderabad: The traffic congestion and massive jams witnessed during the peak hours in Cyberabad area are likely to worsen further with construction work being taken up for the proposed new facilities in the IT corridor. The GHMC will take up road-widening and building flyovers and underpasses as part of the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) at the heavy traffic junctions like Biodiversity and Mindspace to factor in even heavier traffic flow in future. 

As of now, some projects under SRDP are in the initial stage and some at an advance stage. While the GHMC has given tentative dates of completion of flyovers and underpass which are part of SRDP, it has also initiated road-widening at four stretches. A GHMC official said, “A survey is on for land acquisition for the road-widening.”

The Cyberabad traffic police are working with the GHMC to ensure that construction work is carried out with as less traffic disruption as possible. 

Cyberabad traffic DCP A. R. Srinivas said, “We discussed with GHMC officials what we find necessary for smooth flow of traffic and least inconvenience to the public. We recently gave the clearance for the underpass near Mindspace, and GHMC will take up works immediately. Management of traffic is a major issue in such a scenario as we are low on staff. Traffic officials are doing their best by stretching the working hours to manage diversions with such construction activity going on. Recruiting more people is time-consuming, but we hope to get a sizeable number of constables in due course.” 

Meanwhile, techies who will benefit most from the upgraded infrastructure are extending their support to help traffic police. 

As part of an initiative taken up by Society for Cyberabad Security Council (SCSC), techies are working along with the traffic police during peak hours to help manage the traffic at some locations. They are also helping out pedestrians and free-left traffic movement. While the traffic police perform their duty, they have also authorised techies to take pictures of violations and send them to the police. 

Mr Anumod Alex Thomas, who works at Microsoft, said, “After we wind up our work, we get on to the road to help manage traffic. We help out people and traffic cross junctions.”

 When we stand there, people are able to cross the junction in 5 minutes which otherwise can take them 20 minutes if the traffic goes haywire.”