VIP movement at Panjagutta hits traffic, snarls across city

HYDERABAD: Several roads in the heart of the city saw traffic snarls that lasted one to two hours starting 9.30am.
There was heavy VIP movement to mark former CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s birth anniversary owing to which traffic came to a halt near Panjagutta circle. This had a ripple effect up to Errummanzil, Ameerpet, Begumpet, SR Nagar and even Masab Tank.
Adding to the chaos, traffic jams on roads such as Hi-Tec City-JNTU road — which is usual during peak hours — made commute a nightmare for long-distance travellers heading to offices. “I was stuck near the Ameerpet junction for 45 minutes at 10am. The traffic was just not moving. The signal went from red to green five times before I made it through. It took me nearly two hours to reach Punjagutta from Nizampet instead of the usual one hour,” said Satish Parichipalli, a private employee.
Several commuters reported getting stuck on the Begumpet flyover for half an hour in the morning. “People are getting late to their work due to the traffic near Khairtabad. No police, no concerned person from the department is available,” wrote Syed Minhaj on X.
Ambulances too remained stuck. One such instance was reported by Peerzada Mahboob Ul Haq (@Mahboobulhaq99) who posted: “An ambulance is stuck with me in traffic jam for past 20 mins on Nampally road. People have shown no mercy. There are no police/traffic personnel.” In afternoon, traffic police said traffic slowed down from Sarojini Devi Eye Hospital towards Masab Tank.