Hyderabad: The Army wants Rs 250-crore worth of land in lieu of land to be given for road development and widening of new roads in the SCB.
Stating that it would not reopen roads, defence authorities expressed willingness to part with other land parcels to lay alternative roads to provide connectivity between Secun-derabad and the areas surrounding the SCB.
The Army explained its stand during a review meeting on SCB roads with defence officials and government representatives in the presence of Union minister Manohar Parrikar, TS ministers K.T. Rama Rao, and Nayini Narsimha Reddy.
The Army said the defence ministry would lose Rs 250-crore worth property to provide land for alternative roads. He estimated the cost of land at Rs 25,000 per sq. yd and Rs 2,000 per sq ft for Army structures that would be demolished. He said the estimates were based on the proposals sent by the GHMC for the 2-km alternative road from Safilguda to Allahabad Gate.
Mr Rama Rao said the roads were being used for decades and sought to keep them open. Special chief secretary M.G. Gopal highlighted the land need for the roads, and the cost, which he said was Rs 750 crore. He asked during his presentation to provide land and construct the roads at the Army’s cost.
