Hyderabad: While the foot overbridge opposite St Ann’s School, Secunderabad is being dismantled for Metro Rail works, the entry and exit points remain, making it hazardous for unwary commuters.
The GHMC has handed the job to a contractor who has removed the side barricades (foot walls) on the top (exactly in the middle of the overbridge) and portions of the walking track. It has become an accident waiting to happen as an unwary walker taking the FOB can fall on the Metro rail works underneath.
One entry of the overbridge is at St Ann’s School and the other is ahead of the SCB office (adjacent to the lane leading to West Marredpally). It is mostly used by students, parents and others visiting the school.
The foot overbridge near St Anns’ that is being removed to make way for the Metro rail on SP Road in Secunderabad. Photo: DC
“We have started dismantling the FOB, there is no delay; it can be removed in one day. However, the process will start when the viaduct is installed and not during the pillar construction,” said the contractor. The Rasoolpura (opposite Vivanta Hotel and Hyderabad Public school, Begumpet) FOB was the first one to be dismantled to facilitate the progress of Metro Rail work along the Begumpet stretch. The other FOBs to be dismantled are the one’s at St Ann’s (Secunderabad), Ameerpet, Khairatabad and Dilsukhnagar.
Earlier, the Metro Rail authorities had approached the GHMC for dismantling the FOBs in the city but the Corporation had reportedly asked Rs 1 crore for each of the overbridges. The concessionaire, HMR, then decided to dismantle the structures on its own and had also offered to translocate them to alternate sites as an when required by the GHMC.
