Do you know how you can help decongest Hyderabad's traffic?

HYDERABAD: Gone are the days when Hyderabad roads were deserted due to a "work from home" culture owing to the COVID-19 lockdown. Since offices began calling back their employees to "work from home,' traffic bottlenecks in Hyderabad have worsened once again.

Long traffic jams can be seen in many parts of the city during peak hours, notably on office routes. The IT cluster in Hyderabad is entirely congested every day during peak hours, making it the traffic equivalent of Bengaluru traffic.

One of the primary reasons for increased traffic in the city is the increased use of four-wheelers, personal vehicles, and the work-from-home culture. The main cause of traffic congestion is that everyone wants to move at the same time every day due to regular office hours, school and college timings, and so on.

Despite numerous new flyovers, subways, traffic diversions, and metro amenities, Hyderabad city suffers from traffic congestion during peak hours. Traffic reduction is the collective responsibility of all city residents, including the relevant authorities.

How everyone can help reduce traffic in the city

Use public transport

One of the most obvious strategies to reduce the impact of traffic congestion is to use public transit. Taking public transportation is a less expensive and less stressful way to get from one place to another. Many people switching to public transit will help reduce the number of vehicles on the road, thereby lowering traffic congestion.

MMTS : Multi-Modal Transport System (MMTS) services extended up to 90 km in the Twin Cities region of Hyderabad. The MMTS services will now be available on the Secunderabad and Umdanagar-Falaknuma stretches of Hyderabad. The MMTS services are now available to passengers from stations such as Malkajgiri, Dayanand Nagar, Safilguda, Ramakistapuram, Ammuguda, Cavalry Barracks, Alwal Bolarum, Gundlapochampally, and Gowdavalli, among others. Commuters who live far from their workplaces may use these MMTS services to avoid city traffic congestion.

Hyderabad Metro : Why drive in the scorching sun during rush hour when you can ride an AC metro to your destination? The Hyderabad metro is presently a major means of public transit in the city. The substantial flow of people at peak hours indicates the popularity of the Hyderabad Metro. To avoid travelling in the blazing sun during peak traffic hours, use the Hyderabad metro. Those who use contactless smart cards can also avail of a 10 percent discount on Hyderabad metro rides during peak hours.

TSRTC buses : The Telangana Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) has slashed the price of its T-24 (travel 24-hours) ticket from Rs 100 to Rs 90 for the general public and Rs 80 for senior citizens in order to encourage people to use buses as a mode of transportation during the summer. Senior citizens must provide their Aadhar cards when obtaining T-24 tickets, which allow commuters to go anywhere inside Hyderabad and Secunderabad and any number of times in any type of bus for 24 hours.

Srinivas Bellam, a Hyderabad techie who had grown tired of driving in traffic, purchased a three-month TSRTC bus pass and began taking the TSRTC bus from Pragathi Nagar to Raheja Mindspace every day to work. He believes that taking a bus is much easier and more convenient than driving up and down from the office to his house every day. Traffic will not be reduced unless the majority of us use public transport; therefore, "I decided to take the bus every day to encourage others to do the same, as public transit is the only solution to traffic and pollution". Travelling by bus is also less expensive than driving our own vehicle, which can cost us a lot of money.

Car pooling : Do you live in a gated community with neighbours who work in the same areas or at the same workplace? Then you ought to set up a carpooling community with them and try carpooling on a daily basis. All carpoolers will save a lot of time, energy, and money as a result of this. Give it a shot next time!

Use office cabs : Many IT organisations provide cab services to their employees. The use of office cabs has decreased since the craze for owning a car among young men and women However, because traffic is increasing again and fuel prices are rising, it is always a better idea to use office cabs during peak summer traffic rather than driving one's own vehicle.

Always prefer staying close to your workplace if possible : We are all aware that finding housing close to our offices is not always possible, but staying close to the places we work allows us to avoid long commutes and travel during peak hours. Staying close to our workplace saves a lot of energy and money on commutes, and it also helps reduce traffic congestion in the city.

Avoid stepping-out during peak hours : Even though travelling to the office at odd hours is not always possible due to our established working hours, we can save a lot of travel time by avoiding driving during peak hours. You can contribute less to traffic congestion by avoiding peak hours and scheduling errands in the afternoons or evenings after peak hours.

Implementation of Odd-Even rule : Vehicles with the last digit in the odds (1, 3, 5, 7, 9) are not permitted to drive on the 4th, 6th, 8th, 12th, and 14th dates under the Odd-Even plan. Similarly, vehicles with even the last digits of their registration numbers (0, 2, 4, 6, 8) are permitted to drive on the 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 13th, and 15th.

Follow traffic rules : Stricter enforcement of some existing traffic laws can have a significant impact on the volume of traffic on the roads. Following some driving rules can help reduce traffic congestion on the roads.

Work From Home Culture : Work From Home Culture, which became a popular quote during the epidemic era, has eliminated a significant amount of traffic and pollution. Since employees have become accustomed to working from home, they have realised the value of working from the comfort of their homes rather than making the effort to commute to their workplaces, which saves a significant amount of time, energy, and fuel expenses. Employers who think their employees can easily manage work from home should allow their workers to work from home, which would not only reduce traffic but also help minimise air and noise pollution in the city.

Hybrid Work Culture : If employees cannot work from home, companies can implement a hybrid work culture in which employees can work from home on some days and in the office of others. This can significantly reduce traffic while also providing employees with the opportunity to maintain a healthy work-life balance.