Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday, 24 July directed senior officials to establish a dedicated bureau for traffic management and road safety in the state, following a high-level review of Hyderabad's worsening congestion and road accident record. The Chief Minister's Office (CMO) confirmed that the bureau will be given a formal institutional structure, underpinned by a comprehensive study of the state's transportation system.

Key Directions from the Review

Revanth Reddy made clear that enforcement alone cannot resolve traffic challenges. He instructed officials to develop traffic management plans calibrated to weather conditions, work schedules, and peak-hour patterns. Periodic reviews of traffic-streamlining measures are to be held every two to three months, according to the CMO.

The Chief Minister also stressed that infrastructure studies must precede any new construction — a departure from the reactive approach that has historically characterised urban road planning in Hyderabad.

Outer Ring Road Accidents in Focus

Revanth Reddy specifically flagged the Outer Ring Road (ORR) as a critical concern, noting that a significant number of accidents are linked to vehicles stopping or parking haphazardly along the corridor. He cited recent accidents on the ORR as examples and ordered officials to implement preventive measures and ensure continuous monitoring to curb unauthorised stopping on the expressway.

Signal-Free Corridors and Smart Signalling

Addressing core urban congestion, the Chief Minister observed that closely spaced traffic signals are forcing frequent stops, worsening gridlock in the city's central zones. He called for the construction of underpasses and elevated corridors wherever feasible to enable a signal-free traffic flow. Officials were also asked to study the feasibility of deploying a smart signalling system to keep vehicles moving continuously and prevent traffic stagnation.

Drug Control Push in Educational Institutions

In a separate review meeting on the same day, Revanth Reddy directed officials to intensify drug control measures across the state, with a particular focus on educational institutions. He called for declarations to be obtained from students and proposed holding school and college managements — including principals — directly accountable for drug-related incidents on campus.

The Chief Minister outlined a three-stage approach: identifying users and routing first-time offenders to de-addiction centres; imposing severe penalties on repeat offenders; and pursuing strict action against suppliers. He also suggested installing toll-free numbers and QR codes within educational premises to facilitate anonymous reporting of drug-related activity. Officials were further asked to examine the possibility of enacting new legislation to deal with the drugs menace more stringently.

What Comes Next

The twin directives — on traffic governance and drug control — signal a broader administrative push by the Telangana government ahead of the next review cycle. The establishment of the traffic bureau and the framing of new drug-related rules are both at the study and planning stage; formal timelines have not yet been announced. How swiftly the institutional structures take shape will be the key metric to watch in the months ahead.