HYDERABAD: Punjagutta Circle, one of the city’s busiest intersections connecting Somajiguda, Khairatabad, Banjara Hills, and Ameerpet, continues to face traffic congestion issues despite recent attempts to address the problem. Commuters are turning a blind eye to the clearly displayed signage, leading to violations and persistent traffic jams.
The circle, surrounded by shopping malls and hospitals, has long been a source of frustration for motorists. The signage at the circle clearly indicates a “no right turn” rule, with an alternative option to take a U-turn slightly further away for a free left. However, commuters who prefer not to take the U-turn often halt their vehicles between the signal and the median, causing inconvenience to those coming from Somajiguda.
Astonishingly, this violation frequently occurs right in front of the Punjagutta Traffic police station. A traffic inspector commented, “There is a signboard at the circle that explicitly states ‘no right turn’. To address the issue, we have added another board indicating the option to take a U-turn. Unfortunately, many commuters choose to ignore these guidelines.” Normally, three policemen are present at the circle to direct vehicle owners to follow the prescribed route.
However, during special events or movements involving the Chief Minister at Pragathi Bhavan, these officers are deployed for security purposes, exacerbating the problem. Moreover, the city is grappling with a shortage of approximately 70 traffic police personnel, and the deployment of staff for security duty further contributes to the deficiency, according to an inside source.
Although the recent implementation of Operation Rope was intended to ease traffic congestion by encouraging vehicles to halt at the stop line and allow free left turns, it has not had the desired impact on the movement of motorcycles and four-wheelers at Punjagutta Circle, which experiences heavy traffic at all times.
Responding to the concerns raised, Hyderabad Traffic ADCP Sudheer Babu told TNIE, “Now that the issue has been brought to our attention, we will take necessary measures to avoid congestion at this busy circle. We will also work on creating awareness among commuters to refrain from halting at the stop line during a red signal. Resolving this issue is a priority.”