Vehicles diverted in Old City to ease traffic congestion

HYDERABAD: In a bid to ease traffic congestion in Old City, police on Wednesday diverted vehicles moving from Madina to Nayapul towards the high court road on the left. The move is being taken up on an “experimental basis”, cops said.
According to sources, commuters were caught unawares when they found the new traffic diversions. Those who wished to go towards Afzalgunj had to take the HC road and travel to City College.From here, they had to take a right towards Nayapul and then to Afzalgunj.
Locals and businessmen from Pathergatti and Madina said that while the move may have increased travel time by a few minutes and the commute by a kilometre or so, it did in fact ease the congestion.
“Autos in Old City usually contribute to traffic congestion to a great extent. The auto drivers park according to their whims and fancies and efforts to have them move the vehicles often yielded no result. At least now, there seems to be a breathing space,” a trader, who did not wish to be identified, said.
Traffic cops said that the diversions were likely to stay for at least a couple of days more. “Movements of vehicles are being studied. It will take two or three days to completely understand the issue. It is quite likely that the diversion will continue tomorrow as well,” a cop said.
The traffic police earlier, had barred the entry of autos from Gulzar Houz to Charminar in a similar effort to ease congestion on roads.