Hyderabad: With half of the road being occupied by parked cars and bikes of customers and by restaurant ushers, driving through the Tolichowki road after 6 pm is a nightmare.
Restaurants like Shah Ghouse, Pista House and other famous haleem points in this stretch employ people, sometimes as many as 15-20, as crowd-pullers during the month of Ramzan.
These employees stand in the middle of the road to attract the attention of motorists while some even station themselves near the dividers, making navigation through the roads more difficult. As most of the restaurants hardly have any dedicated parking, the problem is worsened with customers parking on the roadside. Apart from this, many small, makeshift haleem eateries have cropped up along this stretch.
Area traffic cops said that neither the restaurant managements nor the small shops had taken any prior permission from the traffic department. However, a senior traffic official from this zone added: “We let them operate because it is only during the month of Ramzan.”
The restaurant managements follow the rules only when a senior cop is present. “First there is the flyover construction, then the delay in the opening and now this. It doesn’t seem like there can ever be freedom from traffic congestion for those who travel through this area,” said Mr Ahmed Ali, a cab driver. “When someone calls for a cab post 5 pm and if I need to use the Tolichowki road to attend to the customer, I don’t accept that booking.” said the cab driver.
