Changed U-Turn Spots Lead to Traffic Congestion at Banjara Hills
Relocated turns at narrow points trigger congestion, commuter woes
Hyderabad: Closure of existing U-turns and relocation of new ones at narrower points on Road No. 12 at Banjara Hills has disrupted traffic flow, with commuters reporting frequent congestion along the 3.2-km stretch.
The affected stretch, from Maharaja Shri Agrasen Statue at Bhavani Nagar to Road No. 1 near Virinchi Hospitals, was relatively smooth earlier but has slowed after traffic changes were introduced.
An existing U-turn, which was close to a nearby crematorium, has been closed, and a new one was set up a few metres away at a narrower section of the road. Commuters said this has led to vehicles slowing down or reversing to complete turns, resulting in bottlenecks.
Traffic from the Road No. 1 side comes to a halt when vehicles take a U-turn towards the Maharaja Shri Agrasen Statue side, as the limited width at the new U-turn point delays movement until the turning vehicle aligns with traffic.
“We need to wait when cars are taking a U-turn; the police should make sure the same U-turns are in place as they were earlier. The commute on this stretch has become stressful,” said B. Manohar.
Congestion intensifies during peak hours with the movement of school and college buses, RTC buses, cabs and office commuters, reducing traffic to a crawl.
A nurse commuting on a two-wheeler said the changes have created new bottlenecks on what was earlier a smooth stretch. “Imagine the plight of ambulances due to waiting time at this new U-turn. The condition is worse for them, compared to others,” she said.
The stretch serves as a key link for commuters travelling between Masab Tank and Panjagutta via Road No. 1, Banjara Hills, with several commercial establishments, hospitals, banks, hotels and residential colonies along the route.
Traffic police said the earlier U-turns were closed and new ones introduced to streamline traffic. However, commuters said the changes have led to increased congestion instead.
Officials said the GHMC is undertaking road widening on this stretch under the Master Plan 2010. A portion of the road towards the Maharaja Shri Agrasen Statue side has been excavated for works by the water board related to drinking water and sewerage, further affecting traffic movement.
