Hyderabad Traffic Police Target System Sparks Public Outrage

In Hyderabad, growing criticism is being directed at traffic policing measures that are meant to ease congestion but are instead adding to public distress. Motorists allege that instead of reducing traffic, authorities are setting up barricades in key locations under the guise of vehicle checking, leading to severe congestion. The focus, they claim, has shifted away from ensuring smooth travel to aggressively collecting fines.

The situation is particularly dire in consistently congested areas such as Barkatpura, Kachiguda, Isamia Bazaar, Koti, and Narayanguda. Frequent vehicle checks in these narrow and busy stretches are causing massive traffic jams, forcing commuters to remain stuck for hours. For those on urgent errands, these disruptions are proving to be a major hurdle.

In a more alarming development, sources suggest that traffic constables are allegedly being assigned daily targets of issuing at least 300 challans. This has sparked outrage, with critics arguing that traffic enforcement has turned into a revenue-driven exercise rather than a public service. Despite directions from higher officials, lower-level staff are reportedly prioritizing target completion over traffic management.

On the other hand, traffic police are also facing serious allegations of turning a blind eye to footpath encroachments. Instead of taking action, they are accused of being complicit through bribe collection. Street vendors—including fruit sellers, tiffin centers, tea stalls, roadside food vendors, and coconut sellers—are reportedly paying monthly “mamools” to operate freely. As a result, footpaths remain fully encroached, forcing pedestrians onto already crowded roads.

These developments have triggered widespread public anger across the city. Citizens argue that authorities tasked with solving traffic issues are, in fact, worsening them. There are growing demands for immediate intervention by senior officials to scrap the alleged target-based challan system and adopt a more commuter-friendly traffic management approach.