Hyderabad: The trial traffic diversions at the busy junctions of Filmnagar, Jubilee Hills Road No.s 45 and 35, Ambedkar University and IKEA junction to ease the flow of vehicles resulted in traffic reduced to a crawl. This forced many commuters to take alternative routes. The trial will last a week or so.
Commuters experienced similar difficulties navigating the diversions at Basheerbagh opposite to old police commissionerate, King Koti road, Aayakar Bhavan and making alternative routes to reach their destinations further burdening them. Those who chose the detours were forced to travel longer distances. Commuters also complained about the narrowness of the parallel roads into which traffic was diverted.
The traffic diversions caught commuters off guard, resulting in heavy traffic congestion at Jubilee Hills and Filmnagar.
Meanwhile, traffic police said that because it was a trial, there was a lot of confusion because commuters are still unaware of the detours and trials would likely to continue for some more days.
Dr A. Anita Reddy, a retired principal and a resident of Jubilee Hills, said, “The new diversions which are imposed at Jubilee Hills forced me to give up driving, as it takes longer and lengthy. I have noticed that they have caused more traffic congestion. Despite of diverting they could have places the manned traffic personal, which would have served the purpose.”
Another commuter P. Kiran, a resident of Banjara Hills said, “To take a U-turn near Road No. 45, it took me at least 20 minutes. How are these new diversions going to ease the traffic?”
Chaitanya Muddham, a corporate employee said, “To travel via Jubilee Hills, it had become a nightmare and we are thinking twice to take the new traffic routes.”
“The closure of roads near Vasu medical hall for the past one and a half year resulted heavy traffic congestion. Earlier, a traffic cop used to help clear the congestion, but now total confusion and this could have been avoided if traffic officials had informed the public about the diversions well in advance,” Middy John Purdue, of Himayathnagar rued.
