After An Overnight Battle With Traffic, WFH Gives Relief People

Hyderabad:Chastened by torturous traffic, when it two hours for motorists to cover 2 km in the tech zone during the cloudburst on Thursday, techies and their employers made sure they worked from home on Friday.

Major thoroughfares along the IT corridor — Nanakramguda, the Financial District, Raidurg, Wipro Circle, Hitec City Road, and Biodiversity Road — were mostly deserted. The holiday for the Vara Mahalaksmi Puja for many sections, and the long weekend, with Rakhi on Saturday, added to the trend.

A commuter from Puppalguda to Secunderabad explained, “On Thursday night, I left the office around 9 pm and didn’t get home until 1 am; the roads were completely choked. But on Friday, the same streets were so free I hardly recognised them. My drive took just half an hour.”

On Thursday night, commuters leaving the Raidurg Metro Rail Station at around 10 pm found themselves stranded on the road until well past midnight as they attempted to navigate their way to Lanco Hills Road via IKEA.

The storm, which drenched the area with a moderate downpour, intensified the city's ongoing traffic woes, but the primary cause of the gridlock was poor traffic and infrastructure management — especially at U-turns on key roads.

From 7 pm to midnight on Thursday, the streets around Raidurg — including hotspots like the TGSPDCL substation, Dallas Centre, and the Sky View Building — were packed. Frustrated commuters, unable to bear the mounting delays, resorted to driving on the wrong side of the road, complicating the chaotic situation. The absence of traffic police personnel to manage the flow exacerbated the issue.

One user commented, “Past midnight, still gridlocked. When even the night offers no relief, it’s a clear indictment of reactive infrastructure and outdated traffic planning. Rain is natural, but this chaos isn’t.”

Another commuter, Raja, posted: “1 hour and 22 mins for 11 km of travel.” A user named Parvathi Mohan posted, “Shame that we call ourselves the 'Hi-Tech City', but all it takes to bring this place to its knees is one strong rain. I’ve been stuck on Raidurg Road for almost two hours, and Google Maps shows a road closure. Hope there won’t be any accidents or medical emergencies.”

The lack of regulation at U-turns also played a significant role in the disruption. The U-turn at Niharika Skyline, which serves as a key point for drivers heading toward Puppalaguda and Manikonda, became a flashpoint.

Drivers travelling from Care Hospitals to Manikonda and Lanco Hills were unable to take the U-turn, as others proceeding from Narsingi to the Shaikpet flyover blocked their path. The result was a one-kilometre-long standstill, with no police presence to manage the situation.

An IT professional added, “After buying a high-end car, I saw how flooded roads were ruining commutes. I chose to work from home and encouraged my team to do the same.”

After the Thursday ordeal, many IT and related firms gave employees the option to log in remotely, contributing to the unusually light traffic.

R. Sadanandam, deputy transport officer, RTA, Rangareddy district, said, “With Rakhi approaching, many people returned to their hometowns, and the IT corridor embraced remote work. City roads generally clog during peak hours.” He urged organisations to stagger office hours to avoid simultaneous road usage.

Sadanandam also pointed out that most cars carry only a single occupant or even a dedicated driver, increasing the number of vehicles on the road. “Despite having broad, world-class roads, Hyderabad suffers severe congestion. Commuters should consider carpooling or public transport.”

This weekend, however, many drivers are enjoying the rare pleasure of smooth, traffic-free roads.