The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Meeting on traffic turns into blame game

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Monday, Jun 23, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Meeting on traffic turns into blame game

Special Correspondent

Traffic police hold RTC, GHMC responsible for chaos on roads

Photo: G. Krishnaswamy

MAKING A POINT: Citizens during an interaction session organised by the traffic police in the city on Sunday.

Hyderabad: The traffic police have decided to open the road median on the Masab Tank road opposite the PTI building to ease traffic. This is to address the problem caused due to closure of the road opposite Mahveer Hospital, said K. Venugopal Rao, DCP (Traffic-II) while participating in the programme organised for traffic management through community participation for the west central zone on Sunday.

However, the programme turned out to be more of a blame game. The traffic police was at its best trying to pass the buck to other departments for the worsening traffic scenario. The RTC and the GHMC became the whipping boys. Similar programmes were organised by the traffic police at different zones to elicit suggestions for smooth flow of traffic.

For everything from chaotic bus bays to autorickshaw menace at Mehdipatnam, Mr. Rao found fault with the RTC. He criticised the corporation for not increasing its fleet in tune with the increased population and not planning proper bus terminals. If sharing autorickshaws had become a menace it was because the RTC had let down the commuters. “Where are buses towards Mallepally, Karwan, Langar Houz from Mehdipatnam and what is their frequency. If autorickshaws are not allowed to ply how will people move?” he asked. Kanthimathi Kannan of The Right to Walk Foundation regretted that transformers at Mehdipatnam remained right on the footpath leaving little space for pedestrians to walk. She wanted action to be initiated first against big companies like Reliance Fresh, Spencer, ICICI which had not provided any parking.

An elderly lady, Raghavamma, said the authorities ought to have widened the Mehdipatnam road before taking up the Expressway.

Meter-less autorickshaws were a big menace but the police were busy looking after VIPs heading towards Shamshabad airport, she said. Zaman Khan of Red Hills expressed his displeasure at the diversion of traffic towards Nirankarai Bhavan through Pear Regency hotel. N. Sudharsahan, RTC manager, Mehdipatnam depot, said 12 persons were deployed at Mehdipatnam for guiding buses into the bays. Chargesheets were being issued to erring drivers.

He said 48 spots had been identified for modern bus shelters in Mehdipatnam area and they would be ready in six months.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) V.S.K. Kaumudi said licences of motorists would be placed under suspension if they repeatedly commit violations.

“We are mentioning driving licence number along with vehicle number in the challan receipt. With this, we can maintain the record of violations of every motorist and later notices will be issued to the Transport Department requesting suspension of licences,” he said.

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