Unused divider causes traffic jams

Kukatpally: An abandoned divider at Kukatpally Junction has been causing traffic chaos in the area. It is too difficult to go through the junction in peak hours, as the road is too narrow. The signal installed to manage traffic at the junction was removed and a u-turn was created to divert the traffic. A part of the divider has not been in use for some time and has been contributing to heavy traffic jam. The huge triangle-shaped divider was constructed years ago to divert traffic from Balanagar. But, after the construction of metro-rail bridge signal, a u-turn was created to avoid traffic chaos, making a part of the divider unnecessary. 

Commuters now demand that the part of unused divider to be removed from the middle of the road. “It takes more than 20 minutes to take the u-turn, while it takes a few seconds to pass in general. The traffic is horrible in peak hours in the morning and evening due to narrow road. Reaching to office on time has become a challenge due to traffic jams. Commuters get stuck in traffic for hours on weekends here,” said Ravi Kumar, a commuter. 

“The traffic condition is horrible at the junction. It takes 20 to 30 minutes to make a u-turn. An underway passage should be constructed here as in Hi-Tec City,” said Devendra, a cab driver. Responding on the issue, Kukatpally traffic inspector Narsimha said, “Yes, it is a barrier on the road, and it’s causing traffic jams. We will soon contact Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials and have a dialogue with them to remove the unused structure.” GHMC Deputy Municipal Commissioner V Mamata said that a team of officials would visit the venue with traffic officials and the divider would remove if necessary to make the traffic flow easy.

BY Mohsin Ali