Statues stymie SRDP at LB Nagar

Hyderabad: The State government’s flagship Strategic Road Development Plan has encountered a strange problem at LB Nagar X cross roads. Despite having funds and acquiring land, the skyways proposed near LB Nagar Junction, Bairamalguda Junction and Kamineni Hospital Junction have come to a grinding halt because of difficulties in shifting of statues of seven prominent personalities.

GHMC encounters difficulties in shifting statues of Rajiv Gandh, B R Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyothi Rao Phule and Srikanta Chary

Statues of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Dr B R Ambedkar, social reformer Mahatma Jyothi Rao Phule,Telangana martyr Srikanta Chary and others on four sides of the junction have turned as prime hindrances for the project.
According GHMC officials, the GHMC has proposed to construct multi-level skyways, grade separators, underpass at LB Nagar Junction, Bairamalguda Junction, Kamineni Hospital Junction on Inner Ring Road and Chintalkunta Check-post Junction at an estimated cost of Rs 331.38 crore.

An official said the agency which is executing the project has already completed social impact survey and soil testing. However, he said the seven statues present on the four sides of the LB Nagar X roads have come in the way of executing the project. He said the displacement of the statues without taking respected communities or parties into confidence may pose legal problems.

When asked about it, a senior GHMC official told The Hans India that the civic body had already held a series of meeting with the respective social organisations and political parties in order to shift the statues, but the organisations have not agreed to the proposal. The GHMC is now considering holding a meeting with State-level leaders of these political parties next week.

Meanwhile, the official said the SRDP has been progressing at brisk pace in the remaining areas. However, he said the skyway at Owaisi Junction is likely to be cancelled due to various reasons. He said the GHMC would complete SRDP phase I in five packages. Package I includes multi-level flyovers and grade separators at six junctions - KBR Park entrance, Maharaja Agrasen Jn (Road No.12), Film Nagar, Road No.45 Junction, Jubilee Hills Check-Post Junction and Cancer Hospital Junction (Road No.10 Junction).

The total cost of Package-I is around Rs 322.92 crore. Package II includes LB Nagar Junction, Bairamalguda Junction, Kamineni Hospital Junction on Inner Ring Road and Chintalkunta Check-post Junction (Rs 331.38 crore). Package III includes the construction and improvement of grade separators at Uppal and Rasoolpura (Rs 160.07 crore). Package IV includes the construction of multi-level Biodiversity Park Junction, Ayyappa Society Junction, Rajiv Gandhi Statue Junction and Mind Space (Rs 196.13 crore). Package V includes the construction and improvement of grade separators or flyovers at Owaisi Hospital and Bahadurpura (Rs 86.21 crore).

By Maddy Deekshith