Stray cattle turn Picket, West Marredpally roads into traffic maze | Hyderabad News

Stray cattle turn Picket, West Marredpally roads into traffic maze

Hyderabad: A herd of cows has become an unlikely traffic hazard for commuters on the busy Picket and West Marredpally main roads, routinely occupying the carriageway as they feed on garbage dumped along the roadside.The problem is especially acute every morning, when school buses, two-wheelers, cars and office-bound commuters crowd the stretch. Residents said the cattle often remain on the road for considerable periods, forcing vehicles to slow down, weave around the herd or take detours through adjoining lanes.“The situation becomes more precarious when some of the cows suddenly move towards passing vehicles or charge at two-wheelers. Two-wheeler riders are forced to brake or swerve to avoid the animals, creating the possibility of collisions and further disrupting traffic,” said G Venkat.Vuppala Lakshman, another resident, said the cattle are drawn to heaps of garbage dumped on or along the road. “Instead of remaining by the roadside, the animals frequently stray onto the main carriageway, occupying space meant for moving traffic,” he added.“With the road being used by a large number of school and office commuters, the recurring problem has become more than a nuisance. We want civic authorities to clear the garbage from the stretch and take steps to prevent cattle from wandering onto the busy road,” said E Raju.Residents urged the authorities to identify the owners of the cattle and ensure that the animals are not allowed to stray onto the carriageway. They said a permanent solution was needed instead of clearing the road only after complaints are made.An official from the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) said, “We have received complaints, and we are working on a permanent solution to this issue. We will inspect the stretch and take coordinated action to keep the road free of stray cattle and garbage.”