War on civilians

Army roads closed from 10 pm to 7 am today

The Army has decided to restrict traffic moving from SP Road/East Marredpally towards Allahabad Gate (Entrancement Road), between Secunderabad Club, Picket/West Marredpally towards Wellington Enclave (Wellington Road) and Safilguda junction towards Safilguda railway crossing (Ordinance road) and Mornington Road, according to an official release.

• 20 lakh people use these roads every day
• GHMC busy with other things, will study alternative routes
• Residential welfare associations planning to stage protest demos

The worst fears of the civilian population living in the vicinity of Army Ordanance Centre have come true. The AOC Centre has started imposing the ban on civilian traffic movement from Wednesday. While partial traffic restrictions and frisking civilians have been going on for the last few months, complete restriction from 10 pm to 7 am was imposed on Wednesday.

People living in areas like AS Rao Nagar, Defence Colony, Sainikpuri, Neredmet, Gautham Nagar, Safilguda, Anandbagh and other areas had a tough time as they had to take the Rajiv Rahadari route to reach their destinations.

On Tuesday night itself, a Telugu speaking jawan was posted at the Allahabad Gate who informed the public that the roads would be completely closed for civilian traffic from 10 pm on Wednesday. People were issued passes which they had to hand over to other jawans near the Military hospital. Suresh Kumar, a resident of Neredmet said, “We have been using these roads for the last 30 years and there were no security issues. This is nothing but harassment by the Army. There was no problem all these years. More than 20 lakh people use these roads.”

No action by GHMC

The Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has not undertaken a study or a survey on the alternative routes. When senior officials of GHMC were contacted they said that all were busy in the preparations for the World Metropolis Congress to be held in the city from October 6 to10. Incidentally, the World Congress is intended to find solutions to urban problems.

An official of the GHMC said that a study on the traffic movement and alternative roads would be done and a report would be submitted soon. In the meanwhile, with the Army imposing restrictions, a civilian-Army face-off seems imminent.

Out of bounds

The Army has decided to restrict traffic moving from SP Road/East Marredpally towards Allahabad Gate (Entrancement Road), between Secunderabad Club, Picket/West Marredpally towards Wellington Enclave (Wellington Road) and Safilguda junction towards Safilguda railway crossing (Ordinance road) and Mornington Road, according to an official release.

Residential Welfare Associations are planning to stage protest. Mallikarjuna Rao, a resident of Kakatiya Nagar, says, “Until the GHMC does not decide on alternative routes and chalks out a plan of action, the Army should not ban civilian traffic. He added that the Army was jumping the gun. According to the court order, the civilian traffic cannot be restricted from using the roads till alternative roads are developed. This restriction is completely against the court order.”

Talks between residential associations and Andhra Sub Area are expected in the coming days. Army top brass says that it is ready for talks to find solutions.