Hyderabad: On April 26, 2026, Hyderabad’s Puppalguda Outer Ring Road (ORR) toll gate became the flashpoint of a rare public uprising against "VIP culture”.

Independent journalist Revathi Pogadadanda (@revathitweets), who has been a vocal critic of the administration’s handling of public grievances, brought the episode to the fore. Her documentation of the event highlighted a stark contrast between the government’s "Praja Paalana" (People's Rule) branding and the ground reality faced by daily commuters.
 

The incident: Heat, honking and hardship

The gridlock began on Sunday morning when traffic police enforced a "green channel" at the Puppalguda toll gate, stalling hundreds of private vehicles for over an hour to allow Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s convoy to pass.

As temperatures climbed in the peak of a Hyderabad summer, the patience of motorists snapped. In a coordinated display of dissent, drivers began a continuous, deafening honk of their horns—a "honking protest" that echoed through the toll plaza.

‘At least you sit in your AC cars’

Videos from the scene show citizens confronting the police on duty. One particular exchange went viral: when questioned about the misery of the citizens, a policeman was heard saying:

"You at least sit in cars with ACs on; imagine our state [standing in the sun]."

The remark was met with sharp rebukes from the public, who argued that being in an AC car does not mitigate the loss of time or the fundamental unfairness of a city being paralyzed for a single individual’s movement.

‘PR Vs reality’

The episode has triggered a wave of criticism against the CM’s public image. Early in his tenure, special PR activities and videos were circulated showing CM Revanth Reddy instructing the police not to stop public traffic for his convoy.

However, as highlighted by Revathi’s reporting and the subsequent social media outcry, the reality today appears vastly different.

The resident issue: The CM continues to reside in a private residence in the high-traffic Jubilee Hills area, meaning every departure of his convoy causes ripples of congestion through one of the city's busiest hubs.

The ‘Event’ schedule: Despite an "18-hour nonstop" work schedule, critics point out a lack of rationalisation in the CM’s attendance at private social functions—weddings, cradle ceremonies and film events—all of which require high-security convoy movements during peak hours.

The common citizen’s request
The protest at Puppalguda was more than just a reaction to a traffic jam; it was a plea for empathy. The common citizenry of Telangana is calling on the administration to spare the public such "torture”, especially during the scorching summer months, and to align the CM's travel protocols with the "humble, pro-people" image he initially projected.