Army wins battle over Gough Road at Secunderabad Cantonment Board meet
Hyderabad: The president of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board rejected a motion on Thursday passed by eight ward members against the closure of Gough Road, stating that the road was under the control of the military and did not fall under the SCB’s jurisdiction.
The board meeting witnessed heated arguments between Army officials and ward members with the former winning the day.
The ward members said that SCB funds — civilian tax funds — were used to develop Gough Road (All Saints Church to AOC swimming pool road) but the Army claimed that it was an internal road and that SCB’s elected members had no authority to pass a motion on the matter.
SCB is divided into Cantonment area (civilians allowed) and military stations (no civilians allowed) under the control of the LMA (Local Military Authority). SCB members do not have any authority to decide on LMA lands.
The ward members protested against the requirement to develop alternative roads and insisted that existing roads be opened. SCB president Brig. Ajay Singh Negi said, “Gough Road falls under the control of LMA. The ward members cannot pass a motion on A1 (sensitive defence) roads. The Army has opened roads from Kowkoor through Bolarum to Yapral, Ammaguda to Yapral, Biscon Chowk to MCEME College.”
“Although they are internal roads we have kept them open. The Gough Road is LMA property. Even the HC and MoD have okayed the decision. The MoD, which had earlier stated that except for internal roads all Cantonment roads should be opened, has given six months to the TS government to develop alternative roads. All help will be provided by the Army,” Brig. Negi said.
To this Ward 5 member J. Rama Krishna said, “When Army families are allowed to vote in general elections why is the Army segregating LMA and SCB? The SCB has approved building plans based on these lands and now with the permanent closure of roads their connectivity will go.”
Heated arguments continued between the Army and ward members who were also asked to walk out. The SCB president asked members to discuss the issue with the LMA.
Members of The United Federation of Resident Welfare Association said, "We are disappointed. We had strongly believed that the SCB would pass a resolution as per Section 258 of the Cantonment Act in favour of the 13 lakh people who are suffering from the road closure."
Some RWAs have filed a petition in the High Court, which is pending admission, referring to a recent Allahabad High Court order and the January 7, 2015, ministry of defence orders, to reopen closed Army roads.
Meanwhile, GHMC authorities and Army officials conducted an inspection at Mahindra Hills, identifying land for alternative roads.
Army restricts entry for helmetless on aoc roads
The Army is insisting that two-wheeler riders wear helmets when driving through military roads. The rule is restricted to AOC roads and not the entire Secunderabad Cantonment. Riders who are not wearing helmets will be stopped by soldiers and their entry could be restricted.
Army officials have set up boards asking all two-wheeler riders to wear helmets and four-wheeler drivers to belt up when driving on internal Army roads.
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