Alternative road plan a win-win

Alternative road plan a win-win
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Highlights

The alternative roads, though slightly circuitous, will pass through the periphery of Army areas but will reduce the commuting time for civilians as the proposed roads are 100 ft and 60 ft in certain areas. B T Srinivasan, vice president, United-Federation of Resident Welfare Associations says,

Both the Army as well as civilians are heaving sigh of relief as the proposed plan will not only ease traffic but also reduce the commuting time

Proposed routes

  • 100-ft road from Safilguda station that would connect and lead to Thapar Stadium
  • 60-ft road beside the Ramakrishnapuram flyover that would connect Safilguda
  • 60-ft road at Ammuguda and Yapral that would connect Ramakrishnapuram flyover

The alternative roads, though slightly circuitous, will pass through the periphery of Army areas but will reduce the commuting time for civilians as the proposed roads are 100 ft and 60 ft in certain areas. B T Srinivasan, vice president, United-Federation of Resident Welfare Associations says, “According to the data given by the Army, 1,90,000 vehicles pass through the Swimming Pool Crossroads every day. The new alternative roads, when developed, could ease traffic to a great extent.”

Also, the Safilguda gate would be closed once the Uttam Nagar RuB is finished. According to the proposed plan, a 60-feet road would be required beside the Ramakrishnapuram flyover that would connect Safilguda. People coming from Dr A S Rao Nagar, Sainikpuri and beyond could use the road.

The proposed alternative roads are planned around the periphery of Army land

When asked how long it would take the Army to sanction the land and for how long the restrictions would prevail, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Andhra Sub-Area C A Pithawala said, “We cannot give a timeline on the restrictions. The compensation for land and other modalities have to be worked out. These are A1 defence lands. We need to deliberate on the issue with the GHMC officials.”

Members of the residential welfare associations say that the onus lies on the State government and the Defence Ministry. Once the Defence Ministry sanctions the land, work could start. In the meantime, civilians are breathing a sigh of relief as the Army has put on hold additional restrictions. The Army establishment of Andhra Sub Area on Friday agreed to defer the January 1 blockade of Gough and Wellington Roads during a meeting with Governor E S L Narasimhan.

It is a win-win situation for both the Army as well as the civilian population as the alternative roads would not only tackle once and for all the security concerns of the Army but would also pave the way for smooth flow of traffic, said Anil Kumar, a member of a resident welfare association of Ramakrishnapuram. The State government will pay compensation to the Army for the land and the GHMC will develop them.

We cannot give a timeline on the restrictions. The compensation for land and other modalities have to be worked out. These are A1 Defence lands. We need to deliberate on the issue with GHMC officials. - General Officer Commanding (GOC) Andhra Sub-Area CA Pithawala

The alternative road plan will not pose a threat to security and would actually make life easy for civilians. Now it is in the hands of the State government, Defence Ministry and the civic body to develop the roads as soon as possible. -B T Srinivasan, vice president, United-Federation of Resident Welfare Associations

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