Ground Report: Traffic diversions implemented to alleviate congestion in Gachibowli-Kondapur area

Hyderabad: Cyberabad Traffic police have modified diversions and made alternative arrangements for the next 90 days following numerous complaints about the chaotic traffic snarls on the busy Gachibowli-Kondapur route.

Field visit

Cyberabad Traffic Joint CP Narayan Naik, along with officers, GHMC Engineers, and journalists, conducted a field visit on Monday afternoon to review traffic diversions and make alternative arrangements aimed at easing congestion on the Gachibowli-Kondapur route.

Traffic congestion due to road closure

The state government is constructing a flyover connecting the Gachibowli Outer Ring Road (ORR) to Kondapur as part of the SRDP project. After successfully completing the construction of pillars between ORR and Gachibowli Square, the focus has now shifted towards erecting pillars from Gachibowli towards Kondapur. To expedite the construction process, traffic authorities have temporarily closed the Gachibowli-Kondapur route.

The closure of the route resulted in severe traffic congestion for several kilometres along the designated diversion routes. To manage the situation, traffic police are redirecting all vehicles from Biodiversity through Ikea junction towards Cyber towers and AIG hospital.

The distance between Biodiversity and Cybertowers is normally 4.4 km, which can be covered in approximately 15 minutes. However, due to the diversion, this entire route is now heavily congested, causing travel time to extend to around thirty minutes. The number of vehicles at Ikea Junction is also overwhelming. The rush hour usually occurs from 9 am to 1 pm and from 5 pm to 9 pm, causing congestion further.

Traffic and Detours

Motorists are facing a challenging situation as they are compelled to travel long distances under the scorching 40-degree sun due to the ongoing diversions. Adding to this, heavy traffic jams have led to growing dissatisfaction among drivers towards the authorities. Unfortunately, this has escalated into conflicts between motorists and the on-duty traffic policemen, who are tasked with managing the roads during the three-month closure period. Responding to these concerns, officials have taken action.

“The closure of the route forces our cab driver to take a detour. As a result of the heavy traffic jam, I’m reaching home late at night and starting an hour in prior for being on time at work,” says Nilima T, an IT employee, suggesting that if the construction of the flyover were done at night, it might make travelling easier.

Recommendations from the public

To address all these issues, the Cyberabad Traffic Police held discussions to reduce congestion and minimize diversions caused by the construction of the flyover. They actively sought suggestions, recommendations, and solutions from the citizens to help ease the traffic issues. Recognizing the inconvenience faced by the public, they are making efforts to find effective solutions to improve the situation.

To ensure the swift progress of flyover construction, traffic diversions were implemented within the limits of Cyberabad.

The following routes were established to redirect traffic:

- ORR-bound traffic moving towards Miyapur or Cable Bridge was directed to use the upper Shilpa flyover and continue accordingly.

- Mehdipatnam to Miyapur and Gachibowli to Miyapur bound traffic were advised to utilize the lower flyover, leading to AIG, Ramky Towers, Radisson Junction, and finally Miyapur.

- Reverse traffic from Miyapur to Mehdipatnam via Kondapur was advised to take the Radisson Junction route, passing through Rolling Hills, AIG, Deloitte Junction, and Gachibowli toward Mehdipatnam.

- Similarly, reverse traffic from the Cable Bridge was guided to follow the route via the IKEA Rotary flyover, arbitration Road, Shilpa Upper flyover, and reach the ORR.

- At the IKEA Rotary, vehicles faced congestion due to the small size of the rotary. In response, measures were taken to enhance the movement of vehicles. The U-Turn was extended towards C gate, allowing vehicles to proceed towards biodiversity Jn., NCC, and AIG at IKEA Gate.

- Kukatpally bound traffic was permitted to reach the biodiversity junction without obstructions via Cyber Towers IKEA underpass and a right turn towards Gachibowli. The reverse traffic from Gachibowli to Kukatpally was advised to take a left turn at Biodiversity Junction, followed by the IKEA underpass, Cyber Towers, and Kukatpally.

- The T-Hub area was connected from Khajaguda Junction to Kohinoor Hotel without obstructions by turning at Pakwaan Restaurant and vice-versa.

-Traffic heading towards Tech Mahindra from Miyapur was directed to make a U-turn at Hitex Junction to reach the IT corridor, and vice-versa from Kothaguda Jn.