“Come on, vehicles going from Kompally to Dhulapally, move now,” screams the traffic policeman holding a mike.
Even before his announcement is completed, vehicle drivers shift gears and zoom past him. A few seconds later, he announces the turn of vehicles moving in another direction.
To control traffic chaos, using the public address system is the only option as there are no traffic signals here, he says.
This is the regular scene at the bustling Dhulapally ‘T’ junction near Kompally on the city’s northern outskirts on the Hyderabad-Nizamabad highway.
This is a classic case of pathetic infrastructure at crowded junctions. This crossroads emerged a choking point, with colleges, commercial complexes and residential colonies springing up all around.
“In the past five years, traffic volumes multiplied. Traffic congestion during peak hours is normal here,” says Sridhar living in Gundlapochampally.
People fail to notice the faded road markings.
With no visible zebra-crossings to cross the road, pedestrians criss-cross and end up confusing motorists. What is more, the junction was not fully developed. The turn towards Kompally from Dhulapally is too narrow for big vehicles to manoeuvre.
The Alwal traffic police got the ditch at the turn filled with debris for a smoother flow of traffic.
“But that is only a temporary measure. Civic authorities should develop the junction. Installation of traffic signals is a primary requirement,” say traffic officials. Unlike city’s central parts, heavy vehicles carrying machinery, and trucks transporting goods pass through this junction.
During day time, policemen manage to regulate vehicles by standing at the junction and waving hands.
“At night, most vehicle drivers are unable to notice my signs because of the glare of lights. This is turning to be dangerous for everyone,” he says.