Hyderabad: The Lake Protection police has installed ten iron barricades and boards stipulating the speed limit, from Sanjeevaiah Park to People’s Plaza.
On Saturday morning, there was intense police checking of speeding cars, youth doing road stunts and anyone found loitering along this route. Two patrol cars circled the lake.
This was a welcome sight for health enthusiasts and joggers who have been complaining of the dangers of speeding cars and harassment from drivers when they are out on their morning walks. The police drive followed a November 18 report in the Deccan Chronicle titled ‘Youth show off stunts pose danger all around’. Dr A. Prabhu, who was a witness to the change, said, “This morning we saw barricades at the entrance at Imax Theatre and a cop carrying out checks. However, the barricades at Jal Vihar were being removed by private security guards who tried to encroach the footpath.”
Later, a few runners, including me, placed the barricades in a zig-zag manner, which will slow down speed. The runners’ community is pleased with the enforcement. Also, I saw a lady on a two-wheeler and her son skating. She had a smile on her face as her son faced no obstruction or speeding vehicles, she added. Despite the enforcement, runners found two youth on a motorcycle trying to perform a wheelie and reported it to the police. “Usually, on weekends, the nuisance is more. However, this Saturday, we had a hassle-free run. We were happy to see the cops,” added Navya Reddy, a runner.
A team from Saifabad police will also help with the checking, assistant commissioner of Police, Saifabad, Venu Gopal Reddy, told Deccan Chronicle that apart from the barricades, the speed limit on Necklace Road has been fixed at 40 km per hour. “Patrolling vehicles will be stationed at Jal Vihar, opposite Imax, and officers will patrol on two-wheelers. Cops in civil dress have been deployed inside Sanjeevaiah Park, Eat Street and Imax to check eve-teasing,” he added.
