Traffic sees mild relief on Sikh Village–Paradise stretch, commute time largely unchanged

Traffic movement has seen some improvement providing mild relief for commuters after the stretch from Sikh Village towards Paradise Circle was reopened following months of disruption due to elevated corridor works towards Suchitra.

The carriageway has been cleaned up and levelled, with gravel and loose stones cleared, making it safer and easier for motorists to manoeuvre. However, despite the improved surface conditions, overall commute time has largely remained unchanged.

During the morning rush between 9 a.m. and 11 a.m., motorists continue to take close to 30 minutes to cross the busy corridor, nearly double the usual time. Evening peak hours between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. also witness heavy congestion.

Commuters travelling towards Paradise and central Hyderabad from Bowenpally are currently being advised to take a left turn at Tivoli Junction and proceed towards Paradise after making a U turn at the Patny flyover, in view of ongoing diversions linked to the elevated corridor construction.

P. Ankit, one of the commuters from Balamrai, said that when the project began, authorities had indicated it would take nine months, but are now stating that it may extend to 12 months. He said the stretch remains highly congested and frequently used. “While the road surface has improved and is no longer riddled with gravel and rocks that earlier damaged vehicles, there has been no significant change in traffic flow,” he said.

He added that his daily commute from his residence in Sainikpuri to Punjagutta has become increasingly difficult. According to him, civil works near the Paradise Metro Station are a key reason for the persistent delays. He also pointed out the lack of adequate bus services and metro connectivity to Sainikpuri, which forces many residents to rely on private vehicles.

An officer from the Malkajgiri traffic police said the elevated corridor is about 5.1 kilometres long, beginning at Balamrai junction near Paradise Circle and extending up to Dairy Farm at Suchitra junction.

The officer said efforts are under way to assess the volume of vehicles passing through the corridor, and there are requests to install Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to monitor traffic more effectively.

The Hyderabad Traffic Police had earlier announced road closures and diversions to facilitate construction of the elevated corridor between Paradise Junction and Dairy Farm Road on National Highway 44. The restrictions came into effect on October 30, 2025.