Techies turn traffic volunteers
said, “There is uncertainty over using public transport. Whenever it rains, people of my shift (8:00 pm) and those from the next shift reach almost at the same time.”
Traffic officials point out that there are sudden surprises thrown by overflowing drains immediately after it rains. Mr. Vijay Kumar, Madhapur Traffic DCP said, “During normal time everything seems to be normal, but with a small amount of rain unknown issues come to fore and everybody including road users, traffic and civic body are astonished. Since lot of construction is going on, road damages need to be repaired immediately and debris lying next to road need to be cleared. Wherever drainage is overflowing or blocked it needs to be acted upon proactively, then only we can regulate traffic seamlessly.”
While emphasizing on restoration of roads, experts opine that public transport is not strong in the new city because of which people prefer cars. Mr. G S R Chaitanya, transport researcher says, “Public transport is not strong in Cyberabad as it is in other parts of the city. People are compelled to use their own vehicles which is leading to traffic. Besides, companies are also offering parking space. Frequency of buses have increased though and once Metro becomes operational, there can be reduction in traffic woes.” Techies adorned the role of traffic police on Thursday and Friday to control traffic congestion at Biodiversity Mindspace in view of the rush to Ikea, a newly opened Swedish store that sells ready to assemble furniture. With heavy traffic congestion on Thursday in Cyberabad area, as part of an initiative taken up by the Society for Cyberabad Security Council, techies, along with the traffic police, helped manage the traffic at key locations in Cyberabad.
IT employees were notified about traffic restrictions through e-mail by their companies and were advised not to park vehicles or stop them on road.
Krishna Yedula, head of the traffic forum of SCSC said: “Based on the heavy traffic witnessed on Thursday, more than 30 techies came forward to volunteer on Friday. Volunteers, who were deployed on Thursday, helped in clearing the parked vehicles that added to the congestion. We advised techies visiting the store, to avoid parking on roads.”
Techies noted that it is not just because of Ikea, but a regular affair when it rains. A techie, L. Srikanth, said: “The traffic towards Ikea has been increasing for the last two months since the right turn near IOCL Petrol pump and U-turn near Mindspace were closed. The annoyance starts from morning. Closing all U-turns from Cyber Towers till Biodiversity is terrible.”
Officials opened up a Uturn above Mindspace underpass on Thursday. Cyberabad Police issued a traffic advisory for people who intend to visit the store. Cyberabad DCP Vijay Kumar said: “We held a meeting with the officials of IKEA and briefed them about the situation. Autos and cabs were not allowed inside the area which led to lots of people coming onto road.” IKEA, however, claims to have enough space both inside and outside and are more co-ordinated for the weekend.