Hyderabad: The KBR Park one-way pilot kicked off on Tuesday with teething issues, as commuters struggled with diversions and long delays, even as a large police deployment was made along the 5.9-km loop to manage traffic. The system, introduced to facilitate ongoing H-CITI works, is expected to remain in place till Dec 2028.The one-way system came into effect at 6am, turning the six-lane stretch around the park into one continuous route. Congestion began building up during the morning peak on stretches including Cancer Hospital-Jubilee Hills checkpost and KBR Park-LV Prasad Eye Institute road.For B Aditi, an advocate at a corporate law firm, the change turned a familiar commute into a nightmare. Her usual route from Gandhinagar to Jubilee Hills Road No 2 via Khairatabad, Punjagutta and Srinagar Colony was replaced by a long diversion.“I now have to go all the way up to Jubilee Hills checkpost before coming back towards Road No 2. I started for the office around 10.30am and it has been nearly three hours, and I am still on the road. If this continues, I might need to work from home. Else, half of my day will be gone on the commute,” she told TOI.Confusion over the new routes added to the morning chaos, with commuters at several junctions struggling to understand where to turn. Some said the diversion signboards were too small to read at a glance.Satya V, an employee at a private company in Journalist Colony who lives in Madhapur, said he had to park his vehicle about 500 metres from his office and walk the rest of the way.“I was caught unawares, so I parked my car near a friend’s cafe. Otherwise, I would have had to go all the way to the checkpost, then towards NTR Bhavan, join the loop from Banjara Hills and then come all the way back towards Journalist Colony,” he said.“I am really hoping it is a teething issue, and the traffic will probably ease as commuters get used to the new routes over the coming days,” he added.Traffic personnel deployed at different junctions said they had anticipated congestion and were guiding motorists through the new routes. Kajal Singh, DCP, Hyderabad traffic police, who visited the area during the day, said authorities were looking at putting up bigger and clearer signages.“It is a major change, and people will take some time to understand the new movement. We are looking at putting up bigger and clearer signages and giving commuters more information about the routes,” she said.“The basic principle is that you take the left lane according to your destination and move to the left lane just before your exit,” she added.The DCP said travel times were expected to improve as commuters became familiar with the new system.For many office-goers, however, the first day disrupted work schedules. “My usual 15-minute ride from my home in Moti Nagar to Mindspace stretched into nearly an hour and a half. I left home at 11.30am for some personal work and later had to log into work at 1pm. But it’s almost time and I am still here in Jubilee Hills. Now I am being told to go back towards NTR Bhavan to reach Mindspace. This is extremely frustrating,” said software employee Mohd Syed Abdul Sattar.Auto-rickshaw driver Waseem said the longer routes were also increasing his fuel expenses.Traffic eased considerably in the evening, according to police. Joel Davis, joint commissioner (traffic), said the situation had improved after 4pm.“Generally, it takes at least two weeks for people to form a habit around a new arrangement. We will observe the movement every day and make improvements accordingly,” he said.Davis said police would also work on improving signage and public-address systems, which were not very effective on the first day.GFX: Key changes under the KBR Park one-way system:Cancer Hospital: Right turn towards Banjara Hills prohibited; motorists have to continue towards Jubilee Hills checkpost before looping back.Jubilee Hills checkpost: Traffic towards Madhapur/Cable Bridge diverted via Venkatagiri Nagar.Jubilee Hills checkpost: Traffic towards Banjara Hills/Ameerpet routed through TDP office.Journalist Colony: Traffic towards Jubilee Hills checkpost continues straight; vehicles towards Road No.45/Durgam Cheruvu-Cable Bridge take the left lane.KBR Park-LV Prasad: Vehicles that earlier went straight towards the park now take a left; traffic and school buses from Yousufguda are sent around the roundabout.
