This is apart from the ongoing night restrictions on other stretches
The Army has announced the closure of the Gough Road from December 1, 2015. Over 40,000 commuters take this route which is the prime path for those travelling from East and West Marredpally to R.K. Puram.
Hyderabad: The Army has made it official that from December 1 onwards, Gough Road (from All Saints Church to AOC swimming pool) will be closed to the general public. The GHMC and the police commissioner have been intimated. This is apart from the ongoing night restrictions on other stretches. Closing of Gough Road wills directly impact residents of R.K. Puram, up to ECIL. Traffic on Trimulgherry Road, which is already congested, will double. As per a survey, more than 40,000 vehicles ply on this particular stretch. Gough Road is at the beginning of the Defence area for those travelling from R.K Puram from one end and Trimulgherry from the other.
This is the only main route for commuters travelling from East and West Marredpally heading towards R.K. Puram. The Army has already closed internal arterial roads, which were open earlier and which commuters would take to reach R.K. Puram through short cuts. Once the road is closed, only Defence personnel will be allowed. Following announcement of the road’s closure, residents of Sainikpuri and Malkajgiri met Cyberabad DCP Avinash Mohanti. The officer told DC, “I do not recollect receiving any such communication from the Army, however, I have asked my team to check the records. The area completely falls under the North zone of Hyderabad.”
When contacted, North Zone DCP L.S. Chauhan too said that he hadn’t received any information. B.T. Srinivas, civilian member of the Joint Action Committee formed by the Army, said, “After learning that Gough Road will be closed from December 1 onwards, we approached the Cyberabad Traffic DCP, MP, MLA, MLC and even the Cantonment MLA. The elected representative promised to meet the Chief Minister and inform him about the same. Residents from the affected areas will be meeting the GHMC commissioner after Dasara.”
Army officials had met the chief Secretary, Rajiv Sharma, a few weeks back and had informed about their plan of action. They have also asked GHMC officials to speed up the process of alternative routes. The state government has been informed several times about the closure. Earlier the Army intended to extend the restriction timings from October 1 onwards, however the plan was dropped. The GHMC commissioner was unavailable for comment while Army officials remained tight-lipped on the issue.
( Source : deccan chronicle )
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