Phase II of Srinivasa Sethu adding to traffic woes of road users

TIRUPATI: Phase II works of ongoing Srinivasa Sethu elevated expressway are adding to the commuting time, increasing traffic woes of citizens in Tirupati or devotees of Lord Venkateswara in Tirumala, particularly during peak hours.

Phase I works of the stretch between Kapila Theertham and Srinivasam are already over and traffic is being allowed on this route. Second phase works, which will cover this portion to Market Yard Junction in Tiruchanoor, are now underway. Part of it is the road overbridge connecting the city’s two busiest junctions – Poornakumbham Circle and Ramanuja Circle. This has resulted in the city centre getting virtually disconnected from all sides. Commuters to different points in the city are being forced to take a detour through dense vehicular traffic during peak hours, which has increased their duration of travel by at least three times.

K. Revanth Reddy, a civil services aspirant, stays in Maruti Nagar. He is having to take a longer route to reach his coaching centre on AIR Bypass Road. He says: “Authorities have closed the road over bridge near Ramanuja Circle. I have to either use rail underbridge (RuB) near East Police Station or the main road through Balaji Colony and West Church. I face traffic jams on these stretches daily. It takes nearly 20–30 minutes to just cross the RuB near East PS.”

It is not that only road users are burdened. Traffic police are also facing difficulties. It is a herculean task governing vehicular flow on the narrow width of DR Mahal Road leading to East PS RuB amid RTC buses moving in and out of the bus stand and encroachments all around. More than half a dozen police personnel are being deployed at busy intersections to regulate vehicle movement.

A senior police officer said: “Any development work affects traffic. Vehicle movement will ease once road works are completed. We have put in place traffic management plans to ensure smooth flow of vehicles. But congestion is unavoidable during peak hours between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. every day. Though we are deploying additional staff to govern traffic during peak hours, commuters following lane discipline will help free flow of traffic.”