GHMC road widening stalls at key IT corridor junctions

HYDERABAD: Traffic congestion continues to plague the IT corridor as key junctions remain narrow and free left turns are missing, despite widening works taken up by the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC).

Officials had identified three locations for the first phase of road expansion — Botanical Garden junction, IIIT junction and HCU bus depot junction. While works at Botanical Garden have been completed, the others remain unfinished.

At IIIT junction, road widening towards IDBI Bank has been completed with a cement concrete stretch. However, the link from Wipro junction to the stadium remains pending. Works taken up to provide a free left for vehicles coming from DLF have also stopped midway.

Similarly, road widening at HCU depot junction is incomplete. Though one side of the road from Masid Banda towards Gachibowli has been expanded, electric poles blocking the way have not been shifted.

Wider problem across Financial District

Authorities admit the need for expansion at other busy points, including Wipro junction, ICICI junction and Continental Hospital junction. In particular, lack of a free left from Wipro junction towards Nanakramguda is causing daily traffic snarls.

Motorists also face problems on the Gowlidoddi road, where widening has not been initiated, making travel towards Gopanpally difficult.

Electricity department officials said work would resume once obstructing poles are removed. “We will restart and complete the pending widening works immediately after the poles are shifted,” Anand, DE, Serilingampally, told reporters.