Introduction of U-turns away from junctions is easing traffic congestion. There are many examples in Hyderabad and Cyberabad Commissionerates, but the latest is Mettuguda junction in Secunderabad, earlier known for traffic mess through the day.
Recently, the Hyderabad Traffic Police closed the median at the bustling Mettuguda junction, stopping the traffic flow coming from Malkajgiri from taking right turn towards Secunderabad or straight into the lane leading to the local residential colony.
Closure of the divider also means no right turn for vehicles coming from Tarnaka and moving towards Malkajgiri. Since majority of the traffic volume constitutes people moving in these two directions, the junction was blocked most of the time.
With people crossing the road from different directions and residents of adjacent localities trying to reach the junction from different lanes, it often used to be chaotic. After closing the median, two U turns were introduced on either side of this intersection one of which is near the church. Now, vehicles coming from Malkajgiri side have to turn left and proceed towards Tarnaka side. Those heading towards Tarnaka and beyond can move without any interruption. Commuters going to Secunderabad can turn right only after taking the U-turn after the church. “Traffic from Malkajgiri side can flow continuously without any obstruction towards Tarnaka and Secunderabad,” North Zone Traffic ACP A. Muthyam Reddy says. Commuters heading towards Malkajgiri from Tarnaka side too cannot turn right.
They have to move straight a few yards from the junction and turn right at the other U turn and head for Malkajgiri. Traffic in this direction is also uninterrupted. “However, for the convenience of pedestrians, the traffic flow is stopped for 30 seconds in both the directions. People use the zebra cross and can reach either side of the junction,” explains North Zone DCP L.S. Chauhan.
Initially, there was resistance from the local shop owners who contended that the changes would affect their business prospects as no customer would stop due to continuous traffic flow. Eventually, they realised it was inevitable and the usual traffic mess has disappeared at the junction.
