Hyderabad: In a move that could affect over a lakh commuters, the entry of all the private vehicles is banned at the Osmania University which connects the main arterial road from Tuesday. The administration took the decision owing to increase in fatal accidents and a few cases where they had a near death experience.

The matter was confirmed by the university registrar Ch Gopal Reddy in a statement, which read, "The Osmania University has decided to ban the entry of all private vehicles round the clock on the main arterial road running through the campus following a spate of fatal accidents and near misses. The decision was taken keeping in view the safety of students and pedestrians on the campus. The university had to act as there were recurring complaints from the student community."

An official said, "The University has deployed four security guards at the NCC Gate and near OU Police Station to restrict entry of private vehicles. We have started creating awareness on the ban of private vehicles on the campus. Slowly, four and two wheelers will also be restricted and in a month or two, the campus will be completely free of private vehicles".

The arterial road is used by scores of people for commuting to Habsiguda, Tarnaka, Mettuguda, Vidyanagar, Nallakunta, Tilak Nagar to Bagh Amberpet. The officials implemented it owing to demand from students for safety and after protest by the students wing, ABVP. The GHMC would be working out with OU to come up with alternate route to alleviate the commuters' woes.