Traffic chaos dents charm of Charminar

Reckless driving, haphazard parking, disregard of traffic rules a nuisance for visitors, residents

Hyderabad: Navigating the roads around the historic Charminar has become a harrowing ordeal for motorists. Thanks to reckless driving of auto-rickshaw drivers and haphazard parking, it has become a nightmare for people to safely make their way through the main roads near the historic precinct.

The Panch Mohalla Kaman junction near Charminar is a prime instance of the chaos that people face on a daily basis. Over 50 auto-rickshaws block the main road near the Unani Hospital rear gate and Milan juice centre. The road was recently widened to allow free flow of traffic. However, over a period of time, the stretch has transformed into an unofficial auto stand.

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Traffic moving towards the Charminar bus stand and Khilwat road frequently slows down at the junction as the stretch gets blocked by auto drivers. “The situation worsens after 9 pm, when police presence dwindles. Teenage auto drivers, disregarding traffic rules, drive in the direction and park vehicles indiscriminately. When you ask them to remove their vehicles, they fight with motorists and create a nuisance,” complains Sujahuddin, a teacher and resident of Mahboob Chowk.

Shopkeepers at the Charminar bus stand echo these concerns. “After 9 pm, passenger traffic is low, yet auto-drivers continue to park their vehicles and loiter,” says Junaid, a shopkeeper. “They often indulge in anti-social activities, creating nuisance for women shoppers,” he points out.

The situation is more or less similar at the Gulzar Houz junction. The road leading to Etebar Chowk is blocked by auto-rickshaws. “Auto-rickshaws hardly move ahead and allow the flow of regular traffic. As a result, traffic slows down regularly all the way till Pathergatti,” lamented K Srinivas, a resident of Lal Darwaza.

A traffic police official said most of the duties of majority of the traffic policemen end at 9 pm and afterwards, the law and order cops regulate the traffic.