Massive traffic jams in shopping areas

Social distancing norms go for a toss

Hours to go before Id-ul-Fitr, massive traffic jams on arterial roads and clogged shopping areas were the norm on Thursday morning prior to the lockdown curfew hour of 10 a.m. Gudimalkapur, Charminar, Toli Chowki, Musheerbad, Monda Market, Moazzam Jahi Market and Begumpet shopping areas were packed with people till at least 10.15 a.m. before the shoppers dispersed and shops were shut. Long stretches of roads were gridlocked including near Hitex, Chaderghat, Langer Houz, Shaikpet, Filmnagar, Osmangunj, Afzalgunj, Nayapul, Musheerabad, Mehdipatnam and Masab Tank. At Gudimalkapur, which is one of the biggest wholesale and retail vegetable and flower markets in the city, the shoppers and buyers spilled over to the main road near Jyoti Nagar blocking traffic during the morning hours. “We went for shopping to Kondapur and returned via the service of Outer Ring Road as the traffic in Tolichowki was heavy,” said Swaraj, a resident of Friends Colony. Others were not so lucky.