Hyderabad: Retired banker’s sketch puts Ladki-Ka-Pul’s one-way traffic plan in motion

A 73-year-old retired bank employee’s hand-drawn map has given Hyderabad Traffic Police an idea they are now seriously examining — a one-way traffic loop around Lakdi-ka-pul and Saifabad. What began as an email suggestion nearly a year ago has progressed to a traffic simulation study and inspections by senior police officers, even as the department explores similar arrangements at other congestion-prone locations across Hyderabad.

Palakodeti Chandrasekhar emailed the police with his proposal to reorganise traffic movement in the busy Lakdi-ka-pul stretch. He was subsequently invited to the Police Commissioner’s office, where he explained the idea. Mr. Chandrasekhar also submitted a hand-drawn map, marking the proposed directions of traffic with arrows.

‘To the best of my ability’

“I am neither a police officer nor an engineer, and I am certainly no expert at drawing. I sketched the map to the best of my ability,” Mr. Chandrasekhar said.

The sketch maps a proposed loop connecting Lakdi-ka-pul, the Secretariat road, Ravindra Bharathi and the Old Saifabad Police Station, with landmarks such as Dwaraka Hotel, the LIC Building, the Assembly, Public Gardens and the DGP’s office marked along the route.

A view of traffic on Lakdi-ka-pul stretch in Hyderabad. File
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

Road improvements required before trial

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) D. Joel Davis said the police had conducted a simulation study to assess its feasibility. However, several road improvements would be necessary before even a trial could be introduced. “Certain intersections would have to be developed or modified to ensure smoother movement under the proposed arrangement,” said the officer.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar, accompanied by Mr. Davis; DCP Traffic-I Avinash Kumar; ACP Traffic Khairatabad Zone S. Mohan Kumar and Traffic Adviser Venkat Ramaiah, inspected stretches near Dwaraka Hotel, the Old Saifabad Police Station, HDFC, Iqbal Minar and Ravindra Bharathi to assess road conditions and existing traffic patterns.

Hyderabad Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar along with Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) D. Joel Davis inspecting some stretches on Lakdikapul in Hyderabad.
| Photo Credit:
BY ARRANGEMENT

A few hundred metres extra, but less honking

Mr. Sajjanar said that one-way loops might require motorists to travel a few hundred metres extra, but could make journeys hassle-free, reduce honking and help curb pollution caused by congestion and vehicles remaining stationary with their engines running.

Referring to the one-way arrangement around KBR Park, he said the police had received considerable positive feedback from commuters, particularly about smoother movement and reduced honking. He said there was hardly any honking around KBR Park following the changes. “There were some hiccups initially, but I thank the people of Hyderabad for supporting the initiative. We look forward to better collaboration between the public and the police,” he said.

Hyderabad Police received positive feedback from people about one-way vehicular flow around Kasu Brahmananda Reddy (KBR) National Park in Hyderabad. File
| Photo Credit:
NAGARA GOPAL

Biodiversity, My Home Bhooja also on the radar

In Cyberabad, officials are examining a separate loop connecting Biodiversity Junction, IKEA, Mindspace Rotary, Times Square Road, Knowledge City, Qualcomm, Dallas Centre Road and My Home Bhooja, before reconnecting with Biodiversity Junction.

Cyberabad Commissioner of Police M. Ramesh and Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Sunpreet Singh inspected the proposed corridor on November 6. Officials were asked to prepare a detailed traffic study covering bottlenecks, traffic generated by buildings and the availability and capacity of parking facilities.