Collector and SP ride through traffic to manage the weekend rush firsthand

metro india news  I hyderabad

Kaleshwaram witnessed a massive influx of pilgrims over the weekend for the ongoing Saraswati Pushkaralu, resulting in heavy traffic snarls stretching up to 5 km near the Pushkar Ghats.

Responding swiftly to the situation, District Collector Rahul Sharma and Superintendent of Police Kiran Kare took matters into their own hands, setting aside formal protocols to regulate the flow of traffic. The duo was seen riding a bike through the congested main road — with the SP at the wheel and the Collector as pillion — to directly oversee crowd and vehicle management.

In a decisive move to ease vehicular movement, Collector Rahul Sharma ordered the suspension of toll tax collection at toll gates in the area, enabling uninterrupted traffic flow and preventing further bottlenecks.

Pilgrims, arriving in large numbers via RTC buses and private vehicles, thronged the ghats to take the holy dip. Senior Telangana leaders, including Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Agriculture Minister Tummala Nageshwara Rao, also participated in the sacred rituals, adding to the spiritual significance of the event.

Adding to the festive atmosphere, a ‘Tent City’ has been set up under the initiative of IT and Industries Minister Duddilla Sridhar Babu, inspired by the grandeur of the Kumbh Mela. Spanning two acres, it offers 40 furnished rental rooms, a dormitory for 200 people, a dedicated dining hall, and a food court — all constructed in just a week by a dedicated workforce operating round-the-clock.

The weekend rush has underscored both the scale of devotion and the efficiency of local administration in ensuring a safe, smooth, and spiritually uplifting experience for all devotees.