34-metre cycling track stretch removed in Narsingi for U-turn to decongest traffic flow

A 34-metre section of the solar-panel-covered cycling track near the My Home Avatar junction in Narsingi is being removed to create a new connection to an existing vehicular underpass. Traffic police expect the move to ease congestion at one of western Hyderabad’s busiest junctions.

The Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited (HGCL) has begun dismantling part of the cycling track to create a new U-turn to allow vehicles travelling from the Nanakramguda service road towards Nanakramguda to use the underpass instead of passing through the signal at the My Home Avatar junction.

70,000 to 80,000 vehicles every day

According to Cyberabad Traffic Police, around 70,000 to 80,000 vehicles pass through the junction every day towards the Narsingi rotary, Kokapet, the U-turn leading towards the IT campuses in Nanakramguda and the Outer Ring Road.

Narsingi Traffic Police Inspector P. Anjaneyulu said nearly 50% of the vehicles using the junction are headed towards IT companies in Nanakramguda, while another 30 to 40% travel towards Narsingi rotary, resulting in long queues at both the My Home Avatar and nearby Nanakramguda junctions.

“The move is expected to reduce around 30% of the traffic burden at both junctions. Vehicles heading towards Nanakramguda will be able to use the underpass, eliminating their waiting time at the signal. For motorists travelling towards Narsingi rotary and Kokapet, signal waiting time is expected to reduce from the current 3-4 minutes to just a minute,” he said.

500 metres of cycling track to turn unusable

As part of the project, nearly 500 metres of the cycling track between My Home Avatar and the junction will become unusable. Traffic police said the affected stretch was already not being used by cyclists and that this was taken into consideration before approving the proposal.

The decision, however, has drawn criticism from cycling advocates, who argue that dedicated cycling infrastructure should not be sacrificed to accommodate increasing vehicular traffic.

Santhana Selvan, Bicycle Mayor of Hyderabad, said this was the second time a portion of the cycling track had been removed, after around 100 metres was earlier dismantled to create a U-turn. “Though it may appear to be a small section, this is a gradual encroachment on cycling infrastructure. Roads for vehicles will always be expanded, but cycling infrastructure should not be compromised. If this continues, the track will eventually lose its purpose,” he said.

Commuters welcome the move

Some commuters, however, welcomed the move, saying long delays at the junction have become routine. Lisa, an IT employee who commutes through the stretch, said her cab often takes 15 to 20 minutes to negotiate the U-turn and reach her office campus even outside peak hours. “If this reduces waiting time at the junction, it will be a big relief for people working in the area,” she said.

The work is expected to be completed in around 20 days, after which the Traffic police will conduct trials to assess the impact of the new arrangement and identify any further changes required to improve traffic flow.