Illegal parking has turned the newly built section of Hyderabad’s busiest Autobahn Road into a traffic nightmare, with gridlock now a daily routine due to poor parking arrangements.
The newly reconstructed 2.2 km stretch from Hero Chowk (also known as Guddu Chowk) to Latifabad Unit No. 7 has once again seen the emergence of illegal parking stands. Double parking outside multinational franchises, commercial plazas, and shops, along with vehicle repairs taking place on the roadside workshops, have severely disrupted the traffic flow.
During evening and night hours, long queues of vehicles cause hours-long traffic jams, leaving commuters stranded. Heated arguments among drivers have also been reported. At several spots, parking fees of up to Rs50 per vehicle are allegedly being collected illegally, reportedly with the connivance of Hyderabad Municipal Corporation officials.
The newly decorated road has also attracted families who stop to take pictures and selfies, further affecting traffic movement.
According to a statement issued by the Sindh Information Department, a meeting chaired by Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad Zainul Abideen Memon – following directives from Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Asif Haider Shah – reviewed traffic and encroachment issues on Autobahn Road. SSP Hyderabad Adeel Hussain Chandio, SP Traffic, TMC officials, and traffic wardens were present.
It was decided that encroachment police, district police constables, traffic wardens, and HMC staff would be deployed to clear the road and maintain traffic flow. CCTV cameras will be installed for monitoring, while speed limit boards and speed cameras will also be introduced.
The meeting further approved strict action, including fines, against traffic violations such as wrong-side driving to ensure smooth traffic flow and safe commuting for citizens.
