This is an archive article published on June 30, 2019
Take 5: ‘People stuck in jams get frustrated… a majority of IT sector follows our advisories’
Since a four-hour-long traffic jam on June 21 following a spell of heavy rain in the IT corridor in Cyberabad area of Hyderabad, the Cyberabad Traffic Police has started issuing advisories to office-goers, primarily in the IT field, to either leave work an hour before peak traffic or leave later if rain is anticipated.
Since a four-hour-long traffic jam on June 21 following a spell of heavy rain in the IT corridor in Cyberabad area of Hyderabad, the Cyberabad Traffic Police has started issuing advisories to office-goers, primarily in the IT field, to either leave work an hour before peak traffic or leave later if rain is anticipated. In a first, it would also issue updates if rain is expected during peak hours. DCP, Cyberabad Traffic Police, S M Vijay Kumar speaks to The Indian Express about the issue.
Have you had success with these traffic advisories?
If it rains during peak traffic hours, especially in the evening, a combination of factors creates huge jams, including waterlogging, road damage and bottlenecks. People get frustrated and vent out their ire on traffic police and municipal authorities. The jams can be avoided if fewer vehicles are on roads… A majority of the people in the IT sector follow our advisories. They are in touch with their security officers and also follow the Cyberabad Traffic Police on social media.
How about people not on social media?
We also issue advisories over all the FM radio channels. There is no other way to inform everybody.
What is the Cyberabad Traffic Police doing to ease these jams and congestion?
We are working in coordination with municipal authorities to repair potholes and to deploy water pumps to clear waterlogged areas. We also issue maps showing alternative routes so as to avoid waterlogged areas.
How many bottlenecks and water-logging points have you identified in the Hi-Tech area and IT corridor?
There are 30 places which see traffic jams, mostly due to waterlogging or bad patches of roads. About 150 traffic cops are there during peak hours.
What happened on June 21?
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There was a brief spell of heavy rain in the evening. All traffic policemen as well as many police officials handling law and order were summoned to help regulate the traffic in Hi-Tech and Gachibowli areas. Senior police officers stuck in the jam also got down from their vehicles to help manage the jam. But it was difficult because all the roads were choked. Finally some two-lane roads were made single-lane and incoming traffic was diverted to clear the jam.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
The June 21 jam following rain.
