Date:12/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/12/stories/2008021258400300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Rush hour goes haywire in rain

Staff Reporter

Inadequate drainage system turns many stretches into cesspools

Knee-deep water at Gymkhana Ground tennis courts, Necklace Road near Sanjeevaiah Park
Traffic halted to clear the way for VVIPs to attend budget session in Assembly

-PHOTOS: NAGARA GOPAL

Caught unawares: Motorists struggle through the water-logged Panjagutta flyover after an early morning downpour on Monday. RIGHT: Bumper-to-bumper traffic near Gymkhana Ground.

HYDERABAD: A short spell of unusual rain made Monday a miserable day for Hyderabadis with water-logged stretches choking all trunk routes for hours together in the city.

The heavy rain that began around 8 a.m. lasted for just 30 minutes but the city continued to reel under its cascading effects till evening. With the traffic gridlocked, neither the traffic policemen could streamline the vehicle flow nor the civic officials could clear water logged roads soon.

The commuters caught in traffic jams on every route had to curse their fate and wait till the rain water receded on its own. The inadequate drainage system turned many stretches into cesspools making morning rush hours into mayhem for the public. Halting the traffic to clear the way for VVIPs heading for the Assembly on the first day of budget session only worsened the situation.

The Chief Minister’s convoy started at 8.55 a.m. soon after the heavy rain lashed the streets but was not affected. However, that of the Home Minister had to slow down on Raj Bhavan Road due to water logging.

“All that these policemen could do is clear the way for VVIPs at the cost of people stuck up in jams,” complained Shivaram stating that it took two hours for him to reach Punjaugtta from Secunderabad. Monday being first working day of the week, traffic flow was at its peak. The VVIPs heading to Assembly from different parts of the city compounded the problem.

With commuters crisscrossing everywhere apparently to escape the congestion, the insufficient traffic police force was unable to tackle the situation effectively. “There are too many by-lanes connected to arterial roads. With the meagre number of constables at my disposal, how can I post a policeman at every lane,” said a traffic police officer expressing helplessness.

The Legislators going from Old MLA Quarters at Hyderguda to Assembly had to step out of their vehicles as the road before Café Bahar was water logged.

Water logging was reported almost on every route. Knee-deep water was seen on the roads at Bapujinagar, Gymkhana Ground tennis courts, Secunderabad Mahatma Gandhi statue, Secunderabad fire station, Karbala maidan, Saibaba temple at Nallagutta, in-gate of Hyderabad Public School and even on the Necklace road near Sanjeevaiah Park.