Road Closures Turn 10-Minute Trips Into 40-Minute Commutes
Residents seek reopening of key roads amid evening congestion and lengthy detours
Hyderabad: A trip from Yapral to Hakimpet that usually takes 10 minutes is now stretching beyond 40 minutes in the evenings, with multiple roads in Bolarum Cantonment closed since Aug. 31.
The closures by Local Military Authorities are affecting more than 10 lakh residents in the northeastern parts of Hyderabad and Secunderabad, the Federation of North Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad (FNECS) said on Tuesday. “The closure of these roads is causing tremendous inconvenience,” it noted, pointing to longer detours and congestion on the few roads that remain open.
Yapral Road, Byam Road, Hislop Road (Gen Krishna Rao Marg, Amherst Road, Ranjitji Road), Rajender Singhji Road, Barr Road, Richardson Road, Golf-Course Balaji Nagar Road, Ammuguda Road and Protnee Road are among those shut, affecting connections between Yapral, Bolarum, Hakimpet, Balaji Nagar, Ammuguda and routes towards Secunderabad.
Residents said the impact is particularly severe during peak hours. Harichandra Rao noted that routine journeys had become longer, while Karan Bajaj said the closures were disrupting everyday travel for those dependent on internal roads.
FNECS recalled that Hyderabad City Traffic Police had objected to similar closures in 2022. In a Nov. 12, 2022 letter, the Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) pointed out that traffic in the area had risen more than 2.5 times since 2011. Uber mobility data cited in the letter showed slower speeds and longer travel times, warning that congestion and detours increased fuel consumption and pollution.
Residents said the latest closures were not accompanied by an official announcement. Guards at the gates cited a “Red Alert” following the theft of arms and ammunition from the Madras Regiment premises on the night of Aug. 30–31. FNECS said it had found no official notice confirming such an alert.
“While the theft of arms is a serious matter, it is not understood how closing public roads will help trace the perpetrators or recover the stolen arms,” Bajaj told DC.
Police and Army authorities are investigating the theft, with reports indicating that personnel with authorised access to the weapons storage area have been questioned. FNECS has urged the Local Military Authorities to reopen all closed roads, saying residents should not be forced to bear the commuting burden.
