Hyderabad: Civilian traffic will soon be facing restrictions on certain roads in the Secunderabad Cantonment. Night restrictions (from 10 pm to 7 am) will be enforced with effect from October 2. Also, heightened security measures and monitoring of the civil traffic are to be enforced with immediate effect.
In the wake of recent High Court order, the Army authorities have decided to enforce restrictions in a phased manner to regulate the civilian traffic on the Entrenchment Road, Wellington Road, Gough Road and Ordinance Road. Between 10 pm and 7 am, all these roads will be blocked. Subsequently, further restrictions will be implemented in phases.
Army officials said that in it recent judgement, the High Court had upheld the Army’s legitimate authority to restrict and regulate civilian traffic on military roads in view of the security and functional considerations. It had simultaneously vacated the stay order and dismissed all the petitions regarding the issue.
However the order has not gone down well with the civilians who use these roads. The AOC roads, in fact, provide major connectivity to about 13 lakh people living in the Malkajgiri Parliament constituency.
Therefore, the Army authorities have convened a meeting of the Residential Welfare Associations’ representatives at Shakti Auditorium near the Officers’ Mess of AOC Centre on September 30 at 4.30 pm to give clarity on implementation modalities.
Civilians accuse civic body of inaction
Thanks to the municipal boards not doing their homework, the High Court has passed an order in favour of the Army authorities in banning civilian traffic on AOC roads. The court had directed the civic corporations, including the GHMC, to make arrangements expeditiously for alternative road networks, but they failed to address the issue.
“We have written several letters to the GHMC, but except filing an affidavit, it has not called for any meetings with the heads of other government authorities like the Cantonment Board, local Army authorities, AOC and Road & Buildings. Recently the AOC was allotted '33 lakh for repairs. This is all civilians’ tax money,” said members of the resident welfare associations.
B.T. Srinivasan, president of Malkajgiri RWA, said, “The R&B, GHMC and Hyderabad collectorate were made one body and the Army and SCB were the opposition body. The HC had asked the civic departments to submit an action plan and explain why the roads should be open to civilian traffic. However, even the traffic has not been studied. They have also not called for a single meeting. Thus the court has now directed them to submit an alternative report in two months, leading to a ban in civilian movement.”
