Commuters caught unawares over Kondapur, Gachibowli diversions

 Hyderabad: A 90-day traffic diversion between the Gachibowli and Kondapur junctions, for a flyover project at Shilpa Layout Phase-II, has left commuters in the lurch, especially those commuting from Lingampally towards Tolichowki and Gachibowli.

Commuters say that Gachibowli and Kondapur junctions are among the city’s busiest, and that diversions through narrow roads have significantly increased travel time. Further, the lack of personnel on the ground or signage by civic or traffic authorities made life on roads harder.

Even though the Cyberabad traffic police recently issued a notification about the diversion till August 10, commuters who were unaware of the same and had a hard time on Saturday, the first day of the diversions being enforced. With hardly any space to take a U-turn or reverse their vehicles, commuters were stranded for a long time on the road.

“As I was out of station, I was not aware about the diversions. I got struck for more than two hours at the Kondapur junction. Not only me, but there were several others held up in their cars and autorickshaws. Only bikers managed to back up and use an alternative road,” said Dr Amar, who runs a dental clinic close to Kondapur junction.

“I couldn’t see proper signage about the diversion, either by the GHMC or by traffic police, anywhere from the Gachibowli commissioner office to my clinic in Kondapur. Due to a heavy traffic jam, I got down, crossed the road and walked to my clinic,” Dr Amar said.

A few commuters, mostly families heading for weekend outings, got into arguments with the traffic police at the diversion points. G. Manik Rao, who was travelling with his wife G. Sunita, said they were heading to Moinabad in Aminpur via Lingampally when they got stuck. “Being a Saturday, we expected clear roads,” he said.

“This GHMC is responsible for posting their men along with the traffic police to guide the commuters but they did not make such arrangements, making life difficult for commuters,” Manik Rao said.                                      

Traffic police said they have deployed adequate personnel on the ground and that there were only teething troubles on the first day of traffic diversions.

“We have deployed over 18 law and order police. I am also on the ground, assisting commuters,” said Gachibowli inspector G. Suresh.

 Naveen Kumar, a Gachibowli traffic police inspector, said, “Two inspectors, two sub-inspectors and 20 head constables and constables are posted at diversion points. We are coordinating with the GHMC authorities to ensure the work will be completed as mentioned, within 90 days.”

“Till people get used to the diversions, the GHMC should lift the debris, clear the roads and cover manholes. Traffic was stuck when buses tried to navigate through narrow roads at diversion points near the Radisson Crossroads, IKEA and Mehdipatnam-Lingampally road. As many also use the Gachibowli junction via ORR that connects to the airport, authorities must complete the work on time.
- Abhishek, Senior consultant with a tech firm

As I had read about the traffic diversions, I took an alternative route from Telecom Nagar. Most junctions on the route were jammed as commuters were unaware about the diversion. I found traffic police guiding commuters. By following their diversion notification and map, I was able to reach my destination on time.
- Dasari Angel, MNC employee, daily commuter