Sudden curbs throw traffic out of gear in Banjara Hills

HYDERABAD: Motorists had a harrowing time commuting on roads in Banjara Hills as unannounced traffic restrictions were imposed between Taj Krishna and GVK One to allow white-topping works on the Panjagutta flyover (on the flyover arm between Nagarjuna circle and Somajiguda) on Sunday. As a result, traffic congestion was reported on the Panjagutta-Masab Tank stretch, Banjara Hills and Somajiguda areas all through the day.Realising their folly, traffic police late in the evening issued an advisory informing road-users about the diversions and clarified that the curbs might be sin force till 5 pm on Monday.
Vehicles moving from City Center towards GVK One were diverted towards Erramanzil and Panjagutta. People who wanted to go to GVK One or Nagarjuna Circle from Masab Tank side were the worst hit as they had to take a detour to reach Road Number 1, Banjara Hills.
“Today , the traffic situa tion was bad. I came from Attapur and there was a heavy traffic jam first on the Mehdipatnam-Masab Tank stretch. As traffic police started diverting traffic moving from City Center to Taj Deccan, the road till Panjagutta was chaotic,'' Dharmendra, a motorist who wanted to go to KBR Park, said. Usually , it takes less than 45 minutes to reach KBR Park, but on Sunday it took him one-and-half hours. However, traffic on the other half of the carriage (Nagarjuna circle towards Taj Krishna) was allowed.. Some movie-goers at GVK One were caught una wares by the traffic restrictions and landed at the mall much after their show time.
“Traffic restrictions were put in place due to Panjagutta flyover maintenance work at NFCL junction. It was decided today afternoon. Advisory was issued through various media, including social media. Tomorrow afternoon it will be over,'' Hyderabad additional commissioner of police (Traffic) Jitender said.
In an advisory issued at 7 pm, the Hyderabad traffic police asked commuters moving from Taj Krishna to take alternative routes. Similarly , for traffic moving from Jubilee Hills checkpost and Road No. 2 Banjara Hills and intending to go towards Panjagutta and Begumpet, traffic police said that traffic would be diverted at Srinagar Colony `T' junction towards Ratnadeep super market, Srinagar Colony road, Shalimar junction and Punjagutta main road.
“We are currently taking up white-topping works on the flyover. We hope to complete the work by midnight. Hopefully by Monday night, we will open the road for traffic,“ GHMC chief engineer (maintenance) Subhash Singh said.