Hyderabad: Closure of the Monda Market junction on RP Road over the last one week by the city traffic department improved traffic flow but has elicited complaints from those who have to take a U-turn.
The closure of the crossing has helped traffic flow towards Bible House, but many motorists complain that U-turns are not advisable since the road is very narrow. This concept works well at Mettuguda, Tarnaka, and Khairatabad because the road is wider.
A protest was held by traders on RP Road who say the closure of the junction and the U-turn will affect their daily commute. Hanuman Jain of Hanuman Aluminium workshop, said, “Throughout the day there are either customers arriving or there is material to be transported. Each time we have to travel 100-150 metres to take a U-turn. Many were caught unawares when the junction was closed, and traffic held up before the U-turn.”
Divisional deputy commissioner of police, traffic, L S Chouhan, is in no doubt about the benefits of the junction closure. “The crossroad closure was intended to make traffic smooth to and from Bible House and Patny junction. Every day the department received hundreds of complaints about the Monda Market crossing. Thus a 100 metre U-turn has been created after shutting down the four-road crossing.”
He said something similar was done in Sanjeev Reddy Nagar, Tarnaka and Mettuguda and it worked well. “People need not halt at the signal. Instead, they can save time by taking the U-turn.”
DCP A V Ranganath said a majority of commuters benefit from the junction closure “because a small percentage of commuters need the crossings.”
