Even Detours Are Jammed: Secunderabad Motorists Crawl Through Narrow, Battered Bylanes

Even Detours Are Jammed: Secunderabad Motorists Crawl Through Narrow, Battered Bylanes

Secunderabad, Hyderabad’s twin city, is notorious for traffic snarls. But last week, commuters faced an unprecedented crisis—even alternate routes are now jammed. With major roads like Sardar Patel Road and Rashtrapathi Road blocked due to metro construction and rain damage, vehicles are funneled into narrow, pothole-ridden bylanes, turning commutes into hour-long crawls.

The Great Secunderabad Gridlock

Heavy rains last weekend left key roads waterlogged and cratered, forcing traffic onto smaller lanes near Trimulgherry and East Marredpally. These streets, meant for local use, are now clogged with cars, bikes, and autos locked in endless standstills.

“I usually take the Marredpally bypass, but now even that’s packed. A 10-minute drive took 45 minutes,” said Ramesh Kumar, a frustrated commuter.

Why Are Detours Failing?

1. Overwhelmed Capacity – Bylanes designed for light traffic now handle thousands of diverted vehicles.
2. Crumbling Roads – Potholes, mud pits, and uneven surfaces slow traffic to a crawl, especially for two-wheelers.
3. No Traffic Management – Absence of police coordination in diversion routes causes chaos, say locals.

Authorities Under Fire

The GHMC and Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMRL) face backlash for poor planning. While metro work is crucial, critics argue monsoon contingencies—like better drainage or temp road fixes—were ignored.

A GHMC official stated, “We’re repairing roads urgently, but rains are delaying work.”

The Human Toll

• Delayed emergencies: Ambulances struggle in choked lanes.
• Business losses: Shops report fewer customers due to inaccessible routes.
• Mental strain: Daily commuters face heightened stress and wasted hours.

Possible Solutions

Short-term fixes:
✔ Deploy traffic police to manage diversion routes.
✔ Patch potholes immediately on critical bylanes.
✔ Use digital signs for real-time route updates.

Long-term reforms:
✔ Upgrade alternate roads to handle overflow traffic.
✔ Integrate monsoon resilience into infrastructure projects.

What’s Next?

With more rain predicted, Secunderabad’s traffic woes may worsen. The crisis highlights the need for development that balances growth with public convenience. For now, motorists remain stuck in endless jams—paying the price for poor planning.

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