Secunderabad's sorry traffic story

HYDERABAD: The Rathifile-Monda Market stretch is habitually clogged with citizens forced to walk on the road as footpaths are either non-existent or encroached upon.

According to a traffic study, the Monda Market road records, on an average, a footfall of 6,016 per hour while Rathfile junction in Secunderabad logs an hourly 3,700 pedestrians.

Other important roads like RP Road, PG Road and SD Road are prey to the same problems. Moreover, for commuters in Secunderabad, inadequate parking facilities only add to their woes. Although over one lakh people pass daily through the Secunderabad area, it is a nightmare for both pedestrians and motorists to move in this zone.

LEA Associates Ltd has recently conducted a field survey in Secunderabad as part of the Comprehensive Transportation Study for Hyderabad Metropolitan Region. The field survey report (stage I) has been provided to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to aid planning.

The study revealed that the 'U' turn for RTC buses near Secunderabad railway station, Rathifile and Gurudwara junction was creating congestion and obstructing free flow of traffic. The one-way road from Keyes High School to the railway station through Regimental Bazaar is of little use and people use it to move both up and down, defeating thus the purpose behind the traffic regulation.

There is heavy pedestrian traffic near Secunderabad railway station as people walk on the carriageway to gain the various bus stops or reach the railway station complex.

Roads like SP Road, RP Road, Rail Nilayam, Regimental Bazar and Minister Road have been identified as primary corridors, bringing traffic into Secunderbad area. The intersections of these roads form important junctions such as Paradise, Patny, Clock Tower, YMCA, Sangeet, Rasoolpura and Chilkalguda.

The study found that apart from encroachment of footpath, on both sides by vendors on roads like RP Road, SD Road, Prederghast Road,

it is street parking that adds to the congestion during peak and non-peak hours. "There is a heavy demand for parking near Paradise junction, RP Road, SD Road, MG Road and Park Lane," the study said. The study observed traffic congestion on MG Road up to Ranigunj rail over bridge.

GHMC town planning officials said that although the width of the road is about 100 feet on RP Road, MG Road and SD Road, unauthorised parking and encroachments have been causing congestion. Further, road widening cannot be taken up as hundreds of properties have to be demolished.

"Solutions will be worked out with traffic police to prevent traffic congestion in the Secunderabad area," GHMC North zone city planner S Chakrapani said.