Hyderabad’s Tarnaka junction reopening trial extended; public opinion evenly split

Hyderabad's Tarnaka junction trial reopening causes traffic chaos, public opinion about keeping ot open split, decision on permanent status pending.

Hyderabad’s Tarnaka junction, barricaded for nearly a decade, was thrown open on a trial basis from April 18. And the jury’s still out about the change. Initially slated to end on May 2, the trial has now been extended, but the outcome remains as tangled as the traffic it’s meant to ease.

The junction was reopened to assess how it would affect vehicular flow between Lalapet and Osmania University. But according to officers on the ground, the results have been far from conclusive. “We’re still deliberating whether to keep it open or shut it permanently,” said an officer from the Nallakunta traffic police.

The Hyderabad Traffic Police even turned to social media for public opinion, conducting a poll on X (formerly Twitter). The response was evenly split: 50.9% voted in favour of keeping it open with a signal, while 49.1% preferred it closed. But on the ground, the picture is less balanced.

“About 90% of the comments we’re receiving are against keeping it open,” said the officer. “There’s congestion. Opinions are split, and the poll isn’t enough — most locals aren’t even online.”

Traffic police posted at the junction described increasingly difficult conditions. “Even on India Premier League (IPL) match days, when the junction was closed, it took over two hours — from 7.30 to 9.30 a.m. — to clear traffic because of VIP movements and match-related vehicles,” said an officer. “Now with it open, minor acc

idents/commotions are being reported regularly. Pedestrians are at risk.”

Field officers echo the concern. “Everyone tries to take the flyover, and it becomes a bottleneck. Especially near pillar number 1040, which is right in the middle of the road between the flyover and a petrol station,” said a traffic officer posted at the junction. “We’re already seeing minor accidents. It slows traffic down and endangers pedestrians.”