AOC road ban eased by Army

Hyderabad: In a sympathetic way and maintaining their own stature of attitude, the Army on Tuesday, softened its stand on the closure of AOC roads to civilians by considering public sentiments and immediate constraints and decided to extend the time for closure of roads to civil traffic in a planned and phased manner.

The fresh schedule is expected to be issued shortly by the concerned authorities. In the meantime, the regulation during night time will be relaxed by 30 minutes in the morning and there will be the imposed restriction from 10 pm to 7.30 am, instead of8 am.

The Army establishment has sympathetically considered granting extension of additional time in a phased manner for closure of roads to civil traffic following a joint meeting was held at AOC on Monday between the Army officials, civil authorities and the traffic department to review the restrictions being imposed on civil traffic on defence roads.

In the meantime, the Army authorities have called for a meeting with the Residential Welfare Associations of the neighbouring localities to discuss the matter. The fresh implementation schedule will be issued shortly.

According to the Army sources, the night time restrictions will be enforced with effect from February 25, 2014, from 10 pm to 7.30 am, instead of 8 am, as announced earlier.

From the other end, the Cantonment Board president Brigadier Sunil Bodhe said that the Army has decided to extend the date of complete ban on civil movement that was on March 10. A discussion with all the concerned bodies will be held on February 26, after which the new date will be announced, added Bodhe.