Even Ganeshas face obstacles !

Hyderabad:The Metro Railway Stations which have been built at low height are contributing to traffic plunging into virtual gridlock with the truck carrying giant Ganesh idols being unable to crawl underneath them.

The truck carrying idols are often getting stuck at these stations, leading to chock-a-block on the roads. Vehicles at these places are crawling along. The frustrated drivers are seen cursing under their breath.

Senior officialsof the HMRL have, however, claimed that the stations are built taking into consideration the convenience of passenger and hence cannot be built too high.

Traffic in areas like Rasoolpurajunction, Mozamjahi market, Lakdikapul, etc., witnessed chaos as a few trucks with large Ganesh idols were unable tocrawlunder the newly constructed HMR Railway Station. The railway stations built at low height blocked the way for trucks carrying idols. It led to traffic snarls.

Speaking to The Hans India here on Sunday, Revanth (27), one of the devotees,who gotstuck in the traffic at Mozamjahi Market while on his way to Necklace Road for the immersion, said traffic jams were expected as they moved further towards the venue but the members were shocked as the idol could not pass beneath the metro station. “There should have been a sign board for the height of the station or a diversion board at least but this was an unexpected event”, he said.

Furthermore, he said that the damaged roads were only making it worse for the pace of clearing traffic.While the issue of height will always remain a constraint for the devotees who would want to celebrate the festival with large idols every year, a senior official from HMRL said the height of the station cannot be increased as it would be inconvenient for commuters.

By SasidharKocharlakota