Cyberabad Warns Sarath City Capital Mall of Closure Over Traffic Bottlenecks

Cyberabad authorities have warned the management of Sarath City Capital Mall on the Gachibowli–Miyapur road in Kondapur of potential closure if they fail to address severe traffic bottlenecks outside the venue. The choke point, which regularly leaves motorists stranded for up to two hours during peak hours, has disrupted traffic flow on a major corridor that carries approximately 1.2 lakh vehicles daily.

Gachibowli Traffic Inspector Gona Suresh explained that the primary cause of the congestion is a severe bottleneck where six lanes of traffic are squeezed into just two. Three lanes of traffic coming from the Botanical Garden junction side merge with three lanes exiting the mall's parking area, forcing all vehicles into a narrowed two-lane carriageway before Kothaguda junction.

The congestion is further worsened by the lack of a dedicated pick-up and drop-off zone for cabs and autorickshaws. According to Gona Suresh, although the road in front of the mall has four lanes, more than two lanes are constantly blocked by waiting autos and cabs, while crowds of shoppers gathering near the entrance further obstruct vehicle movement.

Traffic police estimates indicate the mall attracts 50,000 to 60,000 visitors on average weekdays. Weekend footfall escalates to between 1.5 lakh and 2.5 lakh visitors, with the majority arriving during peak evening hours between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. Visitors have reported spending up to 45 minutes just exiting the mall's parking lot, and over an hour to clear the stretch outside.

While traffic police regularly issue challans and clear illegally parked vehicles, officials noted that drivers often simply perform a U-turn at Botanical Garden junction and return, shifting the bottleneck to the junction and stretching congestion up to the Radisson Hotel. In response, Cyberabad traffic police and municipal authorities conducted multiple joint inspections over the past week to identify long-term solutions.

Authorities have proposed constructing an underpass or inlet ramp from the Botanical Garden side directly to the B1 parking level to serve as a dedicated pick-up and drop-off point. Additionally, police have proposed a skywalk linking the mall to the opposite side of the road to shift 40 percent of waiting commuters away from the main entrance. Authorities are also identifying encroachments along the corridor to widen the carriageway.