Hyderabad: Commuters plying on the Tadbun-New Bowenpally stretch can heave a sigh of relief as work on the much-awaited four-lane Chinna Thokatta bridge has commenced.

The authorities demolished some properties adjacent to the narrow bridge on Friday. The four-lane bridge has been a long-pending demand of both public and traffic police. After travelling at a fairly good speed from Bowenpally and Tadbun, vehicles come to a grinding halt near the culvert as it is too narrow. “Commuting on this bridge is risky. With narrow road space, vehicles at times run into one another,” says K. Ravi of a bakery shop on the stretch.

The new bridge will come up with an approach road of 30 metres on either side. A road median of 1.7 m wide with 10 m road space on either side of it will enable free flow of traffic. “The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is taking up the construction work and it is expected to be completed within six months,” Cantonment Executive Officer V. Prem Chand said.

Hardships all the way

Meanwhile, the temporary bridge that was constructed to ease traffic flow on the stretch is causing untold misery to residents of nearby colonies.

Residents of Anandnagar and Amarjyothi colonies are now made to travel 3 km to go either towards Secunderabad or Balanagar.

No sooner has the demolition of the bridge begun, the traffic police have blocked entry to the colonies, leaving residents fuming.

“There is a hospital in Bhavana Enclave, which is just 200 metres away from the main road. But, we are forced to take a detour to reach the hospital. What will happen to critical patients who need to be rushed to the hospital?” questioned K. Savitri, a housewife.

Source: The Hindu

Entry Filed under: Hyderabad Traffic News