Hyderabad: Old City roads clogged due to poor traffic management

Traffic congestion is rampant in Hyderabad’s Old City, particularly on Charminar–Chandrayangutta and Shamsheergunj–Kalapather roads. Citizens say alternative routes are available but underused due to haphazard parking and minimal police guidance, worsening travel times during peak hours

Hyderabad: Traffic slowdown has become a regular problem in several arterial routes of the Old City, with the traffic police allegedly failing to guide motorists onto the alternative routes.

Consider the case of Charminar to Chandrayangutta road. Traffic slowdowns are very common on the road at two places – Aliabad Sarai and the Shah Ghouse Hotel stretch.

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The traffic bound for Engine Bowli and Chandrayangutta often plies through the road, resulting in traffic jams. “Instead, the traffic police can divert the motorists heading to Chandrayangutta and beyond on the Lal Darwaza – Kandikalgate road to reach Chandrayangutta. Similarly, the traffic police can explore the Shahalibanda – Fateh Darwaza and Jahanuma road to help motorists reach Engine Bowli,” suggests Mohd Munawwar, a retired police assistant sub-inspector.

“It takes 10 to 15 minutes for motorists to cover a one-and-a-half-kilometre distance between Syed Ali Chabutra and Aliabad junction in the evenings,” complained a TSRTC driver.

The only problem the motorists face is using the alternative routes due to the haphazard parking in front of hotels and grocery stores.

“Otherwise, the road conditions are good. If traffic police patrol the alternate routes, the parking discipline will be followed and citizens will have multiple routes to reach their destination quickly,” said S Q Masood, a social activist.

Take the case of the Shamsheergunj to Kalapather Road. The 50-foot-wide road connects the Falaknuma to Charminar road with the NH 44 Aramghar to Puranapul road. “If the road is clear of encroachments and parking in front of shops is streamlined, people will use it to reach Puranapul and beyond. It will cut the travel time,” explained Mohd Inayath, a school correspondent.

Similarly, the Etebar Chowk Road to Rein Bazaar, which is quite wide, can serve as an alternative for people using the narrow Talabkatta road, citizens suggest.