Hyderabad: Roads in Hyderabad’s IT Corridor on Wednesday evening were gridlocked as vehicles lined up for kilometres due to rain-induced traffic bottlenecks.
Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge, roads connecting to the bridge, IKEA junction and the surrounding roads were the worst hit, while traffic in Hitec City, Madhapur and parts of Jubilee Hills, Raidurgam and Tolichowki were also thrown out of gear.
The drizzle only added to the woes of the commuters. Venting their ire at the traffic chaos and bad roads, commuters took to Twitter and shared pictures of the traffic jams.
“#HyderabadRains and mad traffic jam near #ikea,” wrote a Twitter user with the handle People Of Hyderabad.
Another user, Raghav Sannala, wrote, “It all needed one rain for Hyderabad to stall & it happened today.. Welcome.”
While traffic personnel were seen trying to regulate traffic, the traffic wing of the Cyberabad police was blamed by many for road diversions set up two months ago for the ongoing construction works.
“The disastrous traffic in the entire Hi-tech City and Madhapur area is purely courtesy @CYBTRAFFIC 's excellent planning. Don't blame the rains please!” wrote S. Sudhir Kumar.
People also complained of exorbitant cab prices, with a commuter posting a screenshot of his ride from MindSpace to Nacharam that cost '2,149.
Roads in Mehdipatnam, Lakdikapul, Jubilee Hills, Kukatpally and JNTU also witnessed heavy traffic, while Panjagutta, Begumpet and Secunderabad also suffered due to the rains.
“Two and half hours from Panjagutta to Uppal?? (sic)” wrote a Twitter user with the handle of Gyanachari.
“Hyderabad stuck in hectic Traffic jam. Towards DLF to IKEA, Cable bridge and Gachibowli. And another route Jubilee hills to Cable bridge, Mind space, Gachibowli route. If necessary come out otherwise stay at home (sic),” tweeted another user Satish Ravi Kumar.
User Aloomakha Avoid wrote, “It took me 45 mins to reach from ITC Kohinoor beside Knowledge City to Cyient, which for context, takes less than 2 mins on any average day.”
Another netizen Ravi tweeted that Hyderabad traffic is reminding him of Bengaluru — a city that is known for notorious traffic jams.
"It's not even normal jams, literally every road is blocked. That's how pathetic this jam is. The entire stretch of 15 km from my office to home is blocked with bumper to bumper traffic. This won't happen unless something nice seriously wrong with town planning," tweeted Mahaan.
For an exasperated Sai Krishna Manchiraju, summer is very much better than rainy season in Hyderabad.
Another citizen Suraj Lakhotia blames 'U-turns' for the traffic woes. "Traffic is piling up since vehicle cannot turn quickly due to low visibility. All junctions are closed. And once the traffic starts piling up, it's a flywheel effect."
Commuters also demanded that ongoing works to ease traffic movement in the IT Corridor be expedited.
“What is the plan for traffic easing on Deloitte Ramky towers road? It is becoming a havoc to travel to office premises and reach homes during these rainy times... Can we expedite the new bridge construction works? (sic)” wrote Ragha Chaitanya.
Meanwhile, memers had a field day due to the rains.
Twitter user Rajesh Kasakani posted: “Varsham padanantha varake idi viswa nagaram Padite Visugu teppinche nagaram (It’s only a global city till it rains. Once it rains, it’s an irritating city).”
“Needed drone service at Durgam Cheruvu Cable Bridge. @KTRBRS Garu (Pun Intended),” wrote another user.
