Hyderabad: Concrete road taxes motorists
Travel on the route has become a nightmare for commuters during peak hours with only two of the four lanes being open.
Hyderabad: The ongoing cementing of the ISB road in the financial district has been causing regular traffic snarls. The road is to be made of cement-concrete, which is considered more durable, and for which the entire stretch from IIIT junction to Microsoft headquarters has been dug up. Travel on the route has become a nightmare for commuters during peak hours with only two of the four lanes being open.
The project to build a four kilometre concrete road of international standard is slated for completion in October this year but not even half the work has been completed so far. The monsoon months will stall the work further.
About 200 vehicles including taxis, two-wheelers and cars, traverse the road during peak hours. Blocks are inevitable at the turnings for Microsoft where over 3,000 people work.
“The time taken to reach the office has increased. But I am okay with this delay if it’s for a better road. I just hope the work finishes quickly,” said a Microsoft employee.
The road is notorious for small accidents due to speeding as there are no speed breakers. “To avoid accidents at this turning, the company has engaged a guard to manage traffic at peak hours,” informed a guard at Microsoft.
C. Vinod, zonal officer of Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TSIIC) said, “The existing roads were fine, but these roads are being made to last for 25 plus years.”
The monsoon is round the corner but the project managers are not worried. They say that the natural slope will pump the water out. But with debris from the old road still lying around, it remains to be seen whether the situation gets worse.
Located on this stretch of road are the offices of some of the biggest names in IT - Infosys, Microsoft, ICICI, and Wipro. Two major educational institutes, the Indian School of Business and the IDBI staff college are also located here as is the Pullela Gopichand Academy.
TSIIC, which undertook is executing the project, says the laying of the concrete road will be completed on time by October. Concrete roads are considered more durable and safe and resistant to wear and tear.