Hyderabad is gearing up for a monumental influx of devotion and traffic as the iconic Khairatabad Bada Ganesh festival approaches. With more than 30 lakh devotees anticipated over ten days, the city’s traffic police have unveiled a meticulous plan to keep movement smooth and safe.

Key facts

  • Over 500 police personnel deployed at key points
  • Metro services extended: 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.
  • 2,200 regular RTC buses plus special services
  • Darshan concludes September 23; none on September 24

Routes and Public Transport Push

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) D. Joel Davis and his team have identified four primary access routes to the idol: via Khairatabad Metro station, Dwarka Hotel and Telephone Bhavan, Mint Compound and IMAX Prasad’s, or the colony route behind the idol. The message is clear: take public transport. Metro trains will run longer hours, and additional RTC buses will supplement the daily fleet.

Parking and Vehicle Rules

For those driving in, carpooling is encouraged. Designated parking areas include IMAX Ground, HMDA Lake View Parking, and E-Racing Ground behind NTR Park. If these fill up, Maktha Parking on Necklace Road and Visweswarayya Bhavan will serve as backups. Auto-rickshaws and ride-hailing services must use the open ground near the MMTS station—no stopping on main roads.

Traffic Diversions and Pedestrian Flow

Several diversions will reroute vehicles away from congestion hotspots like Rajdoot Lane and Mint Lane. Pedestrians get separate entry and exit queues, with crossings only permitted at Khairatabad Junction, Shadan U-turn, and Nirankari to maintain safety and order.

Metro passengers have been advised to exit towards the Khairatabad Bada Ganesh, or pandal side.

It’s a small detail that could make a big difference—preventing unnecessary road crossings and keeping traffic flowing.