HYDERABAD: Commuters are continuing to bear the brunt of the decision to block all routes to the state secretariat, where demolition work is in progress. The restriction have forced them take longer diversions, translating into longer travel durations.
“I got a pick up order at Kukatpally and the drop was at Domalguda. Ideally, after reaching Khairatabad, I would have taken the Khairatabad flyover. But due to the restriction, I had to go up to Gun Park, then to Basheerbagh, Liberty cross roads before finally reaching Domalguda. I had to travel nearly three to four kilometres more,” Karthik, a cab driver, told TOI.
A private employee, Nilesh from Alwal, said that he had to change the route he earlied used to take to reach Humayun Nagar due to the road blockade at Tank Band, for those coming from Secunderabad.
“I am now forced to travel via Begumpet, Punjagutta to reach Humayun Nagar,” he said.
Not just commuters, the restrictions have also added to the woes of business establishments that exist along the roads. “We have absolutely no problem if the secretariat is demolished. But by blocking the road, our business is also getting curbed. The customers we get from passing traffic have stopped coming. Our business was already hit due to the lockdown and the road blockade is only adding to the financial pressure,” said Manipal Reddy, who had a DTP and Xerox business.
When contacted, a police official at the top brass said on conditions of anonymity: “With the Supreme Court and High Court giving clearance for the demolition of secretariat buildings, there is no point in continuing the restrictions and creating hardships for commuters. But it is still unclear when the travel restrictions will be eased.”
However, Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar told TOI that restrictions will be lifted “in a few days”.
“I got a pick up order at Kukatpally and the drop was at Domalguda. Ideally, after reaching Khairatabad, I would have taken the Khairatabad flyover. But due to the restriction, I had to go up to Gun Park, then to Basheerbagh, Liberty cross roads before finally reaching Domalguda. I had to travel nearly three to four kilometres more,” Karthik, a cab driver, told TOI.
A private employee, Nilesh from Alwal, said that he had to change the route he earlied used to take to reach Humayun Nagar due to the road blockade at Tank Band, for those coming from Secunderabad.
“I am now forced to travel via Begumpet, Punjagutta to reach Humayun Nagar,” he said.
Not just commuters, the restrictions have also added to the woes of business establishments that exist along the roads. “We have absolutely no problem if the secretariat is demolished. But by blocking the road, our business is also getting curbed. The customers we get from passing traffic have stopped coming. Our business was already hit due to the lockdown and the road blockade is only adding to the financial pressure,” said Manipal Reddy, who had a DTP and Xerox business.
When contacted, a police official at the top brass said on conditions of anonymity: “With the Supreme Court and High Court giving clearance for the demolition of secretariat buildings, there is no point in continuing the restrictions and creating hardships for commuters. But it is still unclear when the travel restrictions will be eased.”
However, Hyderabad police commissioner Anjani Kumar told TOI that restrictions will be lifted “in a few days”.
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