State will have to keep alternative roads ready by May 2016
The alternative right now for the Gough Road is the extremely busy Trimulgherry main road, on which there are several bottlenecks right from Secunderabad Club.
Hyderabad: The ministry of defence has given a six-month extension for the closure of the crucial Gough Road that connects areas like Sainikpuri, AS Rao Nagar and RK Puram and beyond with Trimulgherry, giving much-needed relief to harried residents.
The road was to be closed to civilian traffic on December 1. The government should now get alternative roads ready by May 31 next year. Sources said the government has submitted a report on alternative roads to the ministry of defence, which is under consideration.
The alternative right now for the Gough Road is the extremely busy Trimulgherry main road, on which there are several bottlenecks right from Secunderabad Club. The prime issue in building alternative routes would be land acquisition as this stretch is highly commercialised and the roads have narrowed down over years.
The GHMC, Hyderabad traffic police and Secunderabad Cantonment Board had conducted a survey in 2014 and planned to widen the road at Trimulgherry. The Army had also come forward to part with defence land to construct routes. Detailing some of the proposals, North Zone DCP L.S. Chouhan said a flyover starting from Kharkhana police station up to All Saints Church road and another to Lal Bazaar could be a solution. Most commuters take the Trimulgherry road to go to All Saints Church then to RK Puram and towards Alwal through Lal Bazaar. A few motorists take a left turn towards Bowenpally.
Land needed for Gough alternative
“Land needs to be acquired near the Kharkhana police station and near Hanuman temple,” North Zone DCP L.S. Chouhan said on the requirements for building an alternative to Gough Road
Malkajgiri MP Malla Reddy has submitted a proposal to the defence ministry which is also under consideration.
Reacting to the defence ministry breather, Mr Rohan Verma of Sainikpuri said; “We urge the state government to utilise this time and create alternative routes so that residents don’t have to face this fear again. Gough Road is the major road for residents right from RK Puram to Radhika theatre. Trimulgherry is already congested, the state government should make use of vacant land to build alternatives.”
Timeline
A summary of the row over Gough Road from February 2014.
February 2014: Army announces decision to close AOC Roads for civilians, following which two residents move High Court.
February 28: High Court stays Army’s restrictions.
March 22: High Court extends stay till April 3.
April: High Court asks Army to keep roads open to civilians.
October 2: Night restrictions from 10 pm to 7 am imposed.
December 8: Army communicates decision to close Gough Road and Wellington Road from January 1, 2015.
September 6, 2015: Army officials meet chief secretary and GHMC commissioner about intention to close Gough Road.
October first week: Army writes to GHMC commissioner, City police commissioner on Gough Road closure.
October 28: Army puts out statement on closure of Gough Road citing security reasons. No date mentioned.
November 12: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao writes to MoD, requesting postponement of Gough Road closure.
November 16: Army erects board at All Saints Road junction announcing closure of Gough Road.
November 26: Scheduled meeting of Secunderabad Cantonment Board cancelled. Ward members had planned to move motion against Gough Road closure.
November 27, 2015: Defence ministry gives six-month extension of Gough Road.
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( Source : deccan chronicle )
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