Secunderabad residents oppose military’s move to close cantonment roads

Referring to a recent meeting between military authorities and GHMC, Commissioner, over the issue of excision and merger of civilian areas of SCB with areas under GHMC, the Federation members said that it welcomes the move by authorities to meet for resolving the issue but does not endorse any proposals to close existing roads.

Hyderabad: The Federation of North Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad on Sunday said that they would continue to oppose any move by military authorities to close existing roads in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) and in other regions that do not fall under Cantonment.

Referring to a recent meeting between military authorities and GHMC, Commissioner, over the issue of excision and merger of civilian areas of SCB with areas under GHMC, the Federation members said that it welcomes the move by authorities to meet for resolving the issue but does not endorse any proposals to close existing roads.

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“The population using the roads is huge, i.e. more than 20 lakh, covering 3 of the 29 circles of GHMC – Malkajgiri, Alwal and Kapra, and 5 of 8 wards under SCB. While additional roads are welcome, there is no question of closing any of the existing roads. Closure of even some of the existing roads would create havoc with traffic and put public to untold harassment. Besides, such developments do nothing for residents of Yapral, Sainikpuri etc,” the members of the Federation said.

Based on reports, the meeting between GHMC and military authorities was to discuss issues over alternative roads and the issue of payment of compensation in lieu of the land forgone for laying of road between AoC and RK Puram. The military authorities apparently sought compensation of Rs 450 crore towards the land that has to be foregone.

Over the issue of compensation, the Federation members said “All SCB roads are public roads. They have been public roads for over 200 years. Army authorities have no authority to close public roads”.

Most importantly, before Independence, Secunderabad was always under the Nizam and never ruled by the British. Because of this, public land in Secunderabad was always owned by the state of Hyderabad and today it is owned by the State of Telangana. So why is Telangana paying compensation to the Centre for its own land?” the Federation members said.