Hyderabad is all set to host the debut Formula E championship, the global all electric racing competition in the country, tomorrow with the iconic Hussain Sagar and the Giant Buddha Monolith statue forming a formidable backdrop and with nearly 22,000 people in the stands to witness the grand event.

The Greenko Hyderabad E-Prix marks the return of top tier FIA World Championship motor racing to the country for the first time in a decade and held in collaboration with Telangana government will provide Hyderabad and India the first taste of top tier electric motor sport.

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Greater Noida had hosted Formula One race in 2013, but its all electric equivalent will make its debut in India tomorrow with the Hyderabad street circuit becoming the 30th venue and first in India to host an E-Prix. The government hopes it will boost the city’s image as a hub of e-mobility tech.

The current season of Formula E is the first one in which Gen3 cars are being raced. The fourth race of the season will be held on the country’s first street circuit on NTR Marg around the shores of Hussain Sagar lake and by the NTR gardens.

The Hyderabad Street Circuit starts with a high speed lakeside run along the heart shaped Hussain Sagar lake and its length is about 2.835 km long with some 18 turns.

Today, the first practice race was held while a second one will be held tomorrow morning. After a qualifying race the finals will be held at around 3 pm. Although eleven teams are competing most of the cheers will be definitely reserved for the home team Mahindra Racing.

The city is all decked up for the race as the longest musical fountain of the country on the Hussain Sagar Lake was unveiled yesterday. The 180 x 10 x 90 metres high fountain was set up by Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) as an additional aesthetic to the lake. The fountain show will last for 20 minutes and will be  held three times every day between 7 and 10 pm.

However, the huge traffic snarls the city witnessed has been a dampener since many of the key roads at the heart of the city are out of bounds because they form part of the street circuit of Formula E leading to a harrowing time for the commuters.

Since the Assembly is also currently in session, there has been heavy deployment of security for movement of VIPs in Public Gardens and Lakdikapul area adding to the plight of the daily commuters. Many took to social media platforms to complain about the event taking place at the city centre.