New barricades installed under Raidurg Metro to regulate pedestrian crossings

Fresh barricades installed along the busy stretch beneath the Raidurg  Metro Station have altered the daily rhythm of the road, forcing hundreds of pedestrians to pause, wait and search for designated crossing points amid relentless traffic.

The move, aimed at improving pedestrian safety, drew attention on social media, with some netizens criticising the barricades for restricting access to the footpath. Police officials, however, said the measure was introduced after repeated observations of pedestrians spilling on to the carriageway, creating dangerous situations for themselves and for motorists.

Madhapur Traffic Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) K. Chandrasheker Reddy said the barricades were meant to channel pedestrian movement in a more organised and safer manner, preventing both accidents and traffic disruptions.

The Raidurgam main road, flanked by multiple IT parks, including the sprawling Mindspace campus, restaurants and commercial establishments, witnesses heavy footfall throughout the day. The rush intensifies during office hours, when hundreds of IT employees exiting the metro station or nearby offices can be seen clustering along the roadside, watching gaps in traffic with growing desperation before hurriedly making their way across.

The barricades now extend up to the main gate of Mindspace, an area that earlier functioned as a busy auto stand and informal crossing point.

According to the ACP, the lack of regulated crossings earlier meant pedestrians crossed from random points, often stepping straight into fast-moving traffic, and the new system is intended to reduce the split-second decisions driven by urgency that frequently lead to accidents.

To put things into perspective, Raidurgam recorded 41 pedestrian accidents in 2025, including eight deaths. In January 2026 alone, four pedestrian accidents were reported, resulting in one death, while another non-fatal accident was recorded in the first week of February.

The issue gained traction after a video circulated on social media showing a pedestrian walking along the road, alleging that the barricades had forced people off the footpath. Following the post, the ACP, along with Cyberabad Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic-2) Sheshadrini Reddy, inspected the area on Friday.

“The video only shows one angle and gives the impression that the barricades are the problem, which is not the case,” the ACP said, adding that deliberate gaps have been provided between the barricades to allow pedestrians to access the footpath.

Officials maintain that the barricades are a preventive measure introduced in the interest of pedestrian safety, even if the immediate adjustment has caused some inconvenience.