HYDERABAD: Traffic scenario in the State capital is expected to improve with 30 officers and 150 constables joining the city traffic police next month. The strength of traffic constabulary in Hyderabad is very inadequate with just 1,100 as against 1,800 in Bangalore and 5000 in Delhi.

The beleaguered department is planning to introduce traffic marshal scheme and take the help of 4,000 NCC cadets and college students to ease traffic flow. "We hope to increase the average speed on the roads from 14 km per hour to 30 km," said A.K. Khan, Additional Commissioner of Police, traffic, while participating in the round table discussion on `Public transport in Hyderabad - how to improve it' here on Thursday. It was organised by the Hyderabad Action Group, a newly- formed group of concerned citizens. C. Ramchandraiah, its convenor, presided.

Mr. Khan said the general perception among people was that the police concentrated more on catching offenders than regulating traffic. It was correct but now things were changing, he said.

Mr. Khan did not agree with the view that VIP routes should not be given importance. The Chief Minister's time was precious. Also from the security point a VIP should be allowed to go fast. At the same time priority should also be given to citizens, Mr. Khan said.

In association with the MCH, the traffic police identified 150 spots for creating autorickshaw stands. Besides, 50 junctions were identified for installation of signals and nine priority roads selected for clearing them of vendors. The police was concentrating on easing traffic flow at Abids and Key's School area in Secunderabad.

Religious structures on roads had become a big impediment and a strong public opinion was required to shift them, he said.

N.V.S. Reddy, Additional Commissioner (T&T) MCH, called for controlling private vehicles in the city. Everyday Hyderabadis made 70 lakh trips of which 28 lakh trips were through the public transport system. The ideal thing would be to increase the public transport trips to 70 per cent. The core area of the city was less than 10 per cent but accommodated about 60 per cent of population. Ten major corridors, which were prone to traffic jams were identified. They covered an area of 150 km. Hyderabad being a radial city the problem was more in the core area. It had the highest density of 2,300 vehicles per km, Mr. Reddy said.

Panduranga Murthy, Regional Manager, APSRTC city region, said 35 lakh people travel by 2,835 RTC buses in the city. The occupancy rate had gone up by 8 to 10 pre cent recently. Mr. Murthy said road transport was not the ultimate panacea for the traffic problem in the city.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail