KBR Park one-way system triggers traffic jams
HYDERABAD: The one-way traffic system introduced around Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) Park from the early hours of Tuesday left motorists struggling with diversions, confusion and long delays.
Despite one-way signs being installed at several points, many motorists appeared unsure of the new routes and entered roads from the wrong direction. Heavy traffic built up from the morning in Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Film Nagar, Journalist Colony and around Road No. 45.
Motorists also got into arguments with traffic police at several places, while some were seen asking officers which route they should take.
Diversions turn short journeys into long drives
Before the one-way system, the journey from KBR Junction to Jubilee Hills Checkpost took five to eight minutes. Under the new arrangement, motorists had to travel around seven kilometres and the journey took 36 minutes, causing considerable inconvenience.
At Jubilee Hills Road No. 45 junction, barricades had earlier been placed to regulate traffic towards the checkpost. After the one-way system was introduced, the barricades were removed, but motorists were still not given a direct route. They had to take a U-turn under the Jubilee Hills Road No. 45 flyover. A three-kilometre journey took 25 minutes.
Barricades and U-turns add to Banjara Hills congestion
At BRS Bhavan, barricades were placed to prevent vehicles travelling directly from Jubilee Hills Checkpost towards Banjara Hills. Motorists coming from that side had to take a U-turn near Chiranjeevi Eye and Blood Bank and Naani’s Hotel before returning.
Traffic police had announced that vehicles coming from the Jubilee Hills side would be allowed to travel through KBR Park towards Punjagutta on one side and the cancer hospital on the other without stopping. However, vehicles moving in different directions led to accidents and traffic build-up, forcing police to stop vehicles as usual.
As traffic towards the cancer hospital eased, vehicles were allowed through that side.
Traffic remained stalled for hours from the beginning of Banjara Hills Road No. 12 up to Agrasen Chowrasta.
On Banjara Hills Road No. 2, roads near Nagarjuna Circle, Vengal Rao Park, TV9 and Sagar Society were caught in traffic. Vehicles also piled up at Srinagar Colony, Kamalapuri Colony, Krishna Nagar, Yousufguda, Indira Nagar and Venkata Giri junctions.
The Road No. 14 police station road in Banjara Hills was also congested. Ambulances heading to Apollo, STAR, Rainbow and LV Prasad hospitals moved slowly.
Traffic police said the first day of the one-way system had proceeded smoothly overall and expected the situation to settle within two days as motorists became familiar with the new routes.
