The predominant reaction of, let’s say, several motorists who were stopped by traffic police personnel near the Oliphanta bridge and asked to take diversions to the other side was one of bewilderment.
Then their eyes fell on the prominantly-displayed flexis that proclaimed the diversions, with a line adding that the inconvenience was regretted. They moved on sans much ado. Then there were some who asked the policemen and L & T personnel whether it would be opened up in the afternoon, only to be told that the bridge was closed for traffic till August 22. They too moved on.
And there were those who expressed their irritation in typical Hyderabadi ‘ishtyle’ and asked those on duty, ‘raat ko kaiku nayi karthe yeh kaamaan’ (Why don’t they take up the works at night ?).
Exercising appreciable levels of patience, they pointed out at the mammoth steel structure that was being put together, at a height of about 66 feet above the ground.
The officials told people that in about three or four days, the structure would be oh-so-slowly moved from its present position on the Bhoiguda side, to high above the railway tracks leading out of the Secunderabad station. Assistant Commissioner of Police-Traffic, A. Muthyam Reddy apart, there were at least a half-a-dozen Inspectors and dozens of Home Guards and constables, patiently responding to the queries of road users, apart from guiding pedestrians.
On Tuesday evening, people were surprised to see the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Commissioner, B. Janardhan Reddy himself visiting the site and spending quite some time, inspecting the works.
That was the scene at the location where the biggest section of Metro works were taking place !