The main junctions of the Secunderabad Cantonment in Hyderabad need to be redesigned. Many commuters traveling from different areas of SCB, such as Ammuguda, Trimulgherry, and Karkhana, are having a difficult time. A recent study conducted by BITS Pilani, Hyderabad, and NIT-Durgapur found that the Karkhana road is the most congested during peak hours.
The researchers, led by Prof. Prasanta Kumar Sahu and Prof. Bandhan Majumdar, along with scholars Naveed Farooz Marazi, Subshree Panda, and Siddartha Koramati, examined the relationship between traffic congestion and geometric characteristics. They collected data from 20 police stations in five city traffic zones. The data was collected between 2021 and 2022, based on police crash data from 2015 to 2020.
The study identified the Karkhana junction as one of the most congested roads in the city. The researchers developed a technique called TTCI to estimate traffic congestion and suggested using TTCI values to design cordon lines for delimiting congestion zones and determining the level of service of the roadway.
The solution suggested by the study is to have traffic signs and information before intersections. Diversions can help reduce confusion among drivers and alleviate congestion. Improving public transport services can also decrease the number of private cars in the city, which is an effective measure in solving congestion problems. Additionally, restricting the movement of trucks and trailers during peak hours can help reduce speed variations caused by a phenomenon called elephant racing.
CS Chandrasekhar, secretary of the Federation of North-Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad, stated that all stretches of SCB need attention as they face various problems such as narrow roads, traffic congestion, and pothole-ridden areas. Even the recently opened roads need to be resurfaced as they cause a lot of hardship for daily commuters and have led to accidents. Chandrasekhar suggested that the SCB officials, along with the State government, should redesign important junctions.
A resident of SCB, Nikhil, also expressed the need for redesigning all important junctions in the area. He mentioned that the roads should be widened and illegal speed breakers should be removed. Although some potholes were temporarily filled on Karkhana Road, Ammuguda, and Trimulgherry, they got washed away due to recent rain, causing inconvenience and traffic congestion.
Nikhil also raised concerns about morning walkers not being allowed to walk on certain stretches, particularly Bolarum near the Rashtrapati Nilayam road. He urged the SCB to address public grievances and fix the road issues promptly.
