Defence Min urged to defer closure of Gough Road

Hyderabad: In a letter addressed to Union Minister for Defence Manohar Parrikar, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao appealed to him to issue suitable instructions to the Army Autho- rities concerned in Secunderabad Cantonment to postpone the proposed closure of GOUGH road till alternative road is laid.

The Chief Minister said severe hardships were being faced by a large number of civilian population residing in many colonies and areas like thickly populated Sainikpuri, AS Rao Nagar, ECIL, etc, because of closure of roads or imposition of restrictions by AOC authorities in the Cantonment Area.

KCR reminded the Defence Minister of delegation of people’s representatives comprising both Parliament and State Legislature led by the Deputy Chief Minister meeting him on June 15 and submitting a memorandum highlighting the difficulties faced by the commuters from these colonies due to closure of roads. The delegation sought his intervention.

The Chief Minister said that despite the matter being taken up at the level of local AOC authorities and Union Ministry on the closure of existing road and restrictions, a decision was taken by AOC authorities to close the GOUGH road. It, if happened, would cause severe hardship to people.

An analysis of traffic and impact of closure of roads passing through Cantonment Area revealed extreme pressure on many traffic junctions abutting the Cantonment Area.

KCR further wrote that the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation was ready to construct the new alternate roads provided that the AOC Centre authorities cooperated by agreeing to the proposals put forth by the GHMC authorities for early completion of alternative roads to mitigate the hardship faced by the commuters.