Hyderabad: Commuters travelling between Marredpally St John’s signal and Begumpet are facing frequent delays along a key Secunderabad corridor. Unregulated pedestrian crossings between the Patny and Paradise flyovers are disrupting the smooth flow of traffic. A stretch that usually takes about five minutes to cover now often takes 15–20 minutes. The delays are even longer during peak hours.The congestion is concentrated at the exit ramp of the Patny flyover and the entry ramp of the Paradise flyover. At these points, a steady stream of pedestrians cross the road throughout the day, slowing vehicles and causing frequent stoppages. The absence of designated pedestrian infrastructure has created a situation where motorists and pedestrians compete for the same space, reducing the efficiency of the flyover system. Thousands of commuters, including office-goers, students, and public transport users, pass through this stretch daily.‘Truly exhausting’Traffic movement becomes particularly sluggish during morning and evening rush hours, when both vehicular and pedestrian volumes rise simultaneously. The resulting bottlenecks often extend beyond the ramps, affecting adjoining roads and increasing travel time across the corridor.Kothapally Sai Kiran, a tech professional from Safilguda who travels daily to Hitech City, described the experience as increasingly difficult. “I take this route every single day, and what should be a quick stretch turns into a frustrating bottleneck. The unpredictability caused by pedestrians crossing at random points makes it impossible to maintain any steady flow. It’s exhausting, especially after a long workday,” he said.Mamidi Santosh, a private employee working in Begumpet, highlighted the routine nature of the delays. “The delay here has become part of our daily routine. You mentally add 15–20 minutes just to get through this small stretch. Even when traffic seems clear on the flyover, everything comes to a halt near the ramps because of constant pedestrian movement,” he noted.‘No other alternative’Pedestrians using the same stretch pointed to the lack of safe crossing options. One pedestrian near the Paradise flyover said, “We don’t have a proper place to cross safely. There are bus stops and shops on both sides, so people naturally try to cross wherever possible. It’s risky for us, but there’s no alternative.”Another pedestrian described peak-hour conditions as difficult to navigate. “During peak hours, it becomes chaotic. Vehicles don’t stop fully, and pedestrians hesitate midway. Everyone is trying to move at the same time, which creates confusion and slows down both traffic and foot movement,” the person said. Begumpet Traffic CI G Janaki Ramulu told TOI, “The primary cause of congestion in this stretch is pedestrians crossing the road at multiple points. To manage the situation, we have deployed constables on both sides to regulate movement and are facilitating pedestrian crossings in groups of around 15 at a time. We have also been consistently proposing to GHMC the construction of a foot overbridge, which we believe is the only permanent solution to the issue.”With commercial establishments, public transport access points, and residential areas along Parklane, pedestrian movement in the area remains high throughout the day. In the absence of grade-separated infrastructure, the conflict between foot traffic and vehicular movement continues to affect travel time and road usage efficiency along this busy stretch.
