Hyderabad: Reckless driving, particularly wrong-side travel by two-wheelers and autorickshaws, has made several stretches in the city’s central and eastern parts unsafe. While commuters blame non-compliance with traffic rules on poor road conditions and flawed traffic design, police authorities argue that people prefer convenience over compliance.
At most places, motorists were found violating traffic rules to avoid damaged roads, incomplete infrastructure and long detours. At the Lalapet flyover, motorists and auto drivers were observed taking the wrong route to access the flyover quickly. The Uppal-Narapally stretch, which commuters said has been in poor condition for over six years, has emerged as another hotspot. Travellers said pothole-ridden and dug-up roads force them to take shortcuts, often by driving on the wrong side.
In Tarnaka, residents reported frequent violations near flyover entry and exit points, where motorists cover short distances of about 200 metres against traffic instead of following designated routes.
Prashanth, a commuter travelling towards Chengicherla, complain of frequent violations on his route. “I work in the Chengicherla area, and there are many violations on that road. As the traffic is less on one side of the road, people use it instead of the stretch beside the median that is congested,” he said.
Another commuter described his daily journey as “hell”, citing the incomplete flyover on the Uppal-Narapally stretch and the combined risks of overspeeding and wrong-side driving. “There are hardly any traffic cops to regulate the situation. People are either speeding or coming from the wrong side, making it extremely risky,” he said.
A woman commuter said motorists tend to follow rules only in the presence of police personnel, reverting to violations in their absence. A private employee flagged traffic management issues during matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, stating that congestion worsens significantly, and heavy vehicles add to the problem due to a lack of awareness of diversions. “There should be prominent signboards at the ORR entry points indicating alternative routes,” she said.
A traffic police officer said many commuters avoid slightly longer but safer routes and choose to drive against traffic to save time, especially on stretches where one side is less congested. “People prefer convenience over compliance. Even if it means risking their own safety and that of others, they take the wrong route to reach faster,” the officer said, adding that such violations attract challans despite intensified enforcement.
Referring to traffic during matches at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium, the officer said vehicular movement increases sharply, making regulation challenging despite diversions and deployment of personnel. He added that around 90 per cent of heavy vehicles are restricted at the city’s outskirts, but the remaining vehicles entering the city contribute to bottlenecks during peak hours and large events.
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