Hyderabad: Though commuters have been complaining that the time to travel from Toli Chowki to Gachibowli has increased from 15 minutes to 45 minutes in the last two years, it seems that they will have to wait longer for a congestion free ride on this 7.5-km stretch.
Thousands of techies use this road to reach their workplaces in Gachibowli and Nanakramguda. Work had commenced on a flyover at Toli Chowki junction which was expected to ease traffic congestion, but the owners of nearly 70 properties have approached the courts against land acquisition by the GHMC.
The GHMC requires 215 properties to widen the road to 215 feet. At present, the road is 70 to 80 feet in some areas but narrows down to 40 feet at some points.
“The vehicle volume has increased a lot. During peak hours, it takes 10 to 15 minutes to cross just one signal. The government should take up this road immediately as it connects the city with Gachibowli,” said B. Srinivasa Rao, president of Telecom Nagar Welfare Association.
“With businesses increasing in Gachibowli and nearby areas, the traffic has increased many times. There are three junctions up to Toli Chowki after Mehdipatnam, then four signals to reach Gachibowli,” said M.N. Nisha, a software professional.
GHMC chief engineer Dhan Singh said road widening project will be launched soon. The government has appro-ved widening the corridor to 215 feet.
“Works will be taken up soon,” he added.Why does the government give permission to companies and colonies to set up their establishments when it cannot expand the road? The traffic situation is equally bad elsewhere in the city,” said Ms M.N. Nisha, a software employee.
“The traffic congestion starts at 8 am and continues up to 10 pm on this stretch. Even the traffic cops get exhausted trying to regulate the vehicular movement. Not many follow traffic rules in the city and this further adds to congestion problem. How many more road widening will be done? The government should control the sale of new vehicles,” said Mahmood Ali, a trader at Toli Chowki.
GHMC Engineer in Chief Dhan Singh said that the road development plan had been approved for widening the corridor up to 215 feet. “Works will be taken up soon,” he added.
