Hyderabad: It was a nightmare for thousands of techies who were stuck in traffic jams while trying to reach their offices and homes in the IT hub of Madhapur, Mindspace junction, Miyapur, Kondapur, Kukatpally and Gachibowli on Monday night. Women employees reached home at midnight due to the heavy downpour in the Cyberabad city limits, and the heavy traffic jam near Mindspace junction, where vehicles waited in long queues. Frustrated commuters were seen waiting outside their cars, some even walked home leaving behind their cars.
Those who went through this ordeal said it would have been better if they had stayed on in the office and worked overtime rather than burning fuel and getting frustrated out on the roads. “It took me 120 minutes to cross 10 km from Miyapur to Hitec City due to the terrible road, water logging and potholes,” said K Ramakrishna.
Amer Hussain, who lives in Chitrapuri Hills, was on his way home from office and took the road via Manikonda, as the road from Dargah to Khajaguda circle was blocked.
“I don’t know the road very well, as I take a different route every day. My bike’s front wheel was stuck in a manhole and I fell down, but luckily, I landed safely. It could have been very bad if I had landed on the rocks. I called my friends for help, and even after they arrived, it took us two hours for us to reach home.”
Kiran Dembla lives near Malaysian township. “I started from Madhapur at 8 pm and usually it takes only 15 minutes to reach home daily but yesterday was horrible. It took four hours. There was not a single cop on the road. Commuters were helping each other to clear traffic.”
Koratala Shiva, a prominent Tollywood film-maker, who was stuck in traffic for two hours, tweeted: ‘It’s been two hours and I am still on the way home from Jubilee hills to Madhapur. It looks like it may take another two more hours. What’s happening to Hyderabad, can’t afford if it rains.’
Cyberabad Traffic ACP Pagadala Ashok said, “It took almost up to 1 am to clear the traffic last night; even if traffic cops were deployed they cannot clear the traffic, as traffic jams occurred due to water logging. It’s better to avoid Malkam Cheruvu road during the rains to avoid danger. We have advised commuters to avoid the Madhapur via Shilpararam route if it rains again; instead it’s better to commute via the Gachibowli route.”
Online petition for better roads
A 26-year-old IIIT graduate, Raja Mamidi from Hyderabad, has launched an online petition demanding better roads.He wants the government to improve the roads of Hyderabad or return the road taxes paid by citizens. Every time his petition is signed by a supporter, an email is automatically sent to IT minister K.T. Rama Rao. According to the petitioner, rains have damaged the roads.
