HYDERABAD: The plan to construct a bus bay by occupying part of the iconic Marredpally playground has been scrapped, with residents especially the local sporting fraternity cheering the decision. This has come after hundreds from Marredpally stood united to oppose the junction improvement project which would have eaten up the iconic playground.
Over the past three days, school students, sports coaches and even senior citizens, held protests and called upon the GHMC officials to save the playground. The GHMC authorities, after accepting suggestions from the sportsmen, decided to withdraw the proposal and instead take a small avoidable unused portion of the ground to make way for a free left. This will in turn help reduce traffic snarls.
The free left turn has been planned towards a right corner of the ground, while coming from Marredpally to AOC Centre (the place is near Shenoy cross roads). However, so far, no project design has been prepared.
Though the residents have accepted the new plan, they have to ask the GHMC to first demark the area after which the final nod to acquire the playground will be given. Cricket Coach Mr R. Harinarayan Rao said, “During the inspection carried out by the GHMC at the field, officials were informed that if they acquire the land, many coaching activities would be curbed, the outfield baseball practice would be impossible. Keeping in mind the appeals made by students, the plan to occupy part of 6mtsx110mts has been dropped. Now they have planned to cut a corner to give way for a free left, which has been accepted by majority.”
The Municipal Corporation will carry out marking at the ground in the coming week. Many Marredpallians congratulated the efforts put in to save the iconic ground.
