Secunderabad Cantonment road closure repeats: Residents threaten agitation
Hyderabad: In a move that has ignited public outcry multiple key roads within the Secunderabad Cantonment have been abruptly closed by the Local Military Authority (LMA). Residents allege that this action comes just weeks after the state government announced the development of an ‘Alternative Road’ to address longstanding access issues. The closures, which residents label as ‘illegal,’ have effectively cut off vital arteries used by civilians for decades.
The roads that were affected in this closure include Ammuguda Gate which is being closed from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM, While Holy Trinity Church Gate is being closed closed completely. Meanwhile Eagle Chowk, closed to civilian traffic. Further Road to Army School route leading from Ammuguda Gate is reported to be shut completely.
Residents of Secunderabad say that the actions began shortly after the Telangana government unveiled plans for an ‘Alternative Road’ to ease congestion, a project that is part of the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) but is located far from the currently affected areas.
The timing of these closures has raised serious questions among citizens and activists. Condemning the closures of roads, C.S.Chandrashekar, Secretary, Federation of North Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad (Green Sainikpuri) a resident body that fights against road closures, said, “Why is it named an Alternative Road? Why not an additional new link road as per SRDP?” arguing that the nomenclature is a tactic to justify closing existing public thoroughfares. "Isn't this a method to fool Secunderabad? We will start our agitation back again. Years of structure have gone to waste,” added C.S.Chandrashekar.
Pointing to clear orders from Army Headquarters and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) from the Ministry of Defence,C.S.Chandrashekar said that “stipulated road closures can only be enacted after following the consultative procedures prescribed under Section 257 of the Cantonments Act”.
Speaking to Hyderabadmail C.S.Chandrashekar said, “In the 2018 order from the Integrated Headquarters(IHQ) of Ministry of Defence(MoD), If any road closure be implemented they should issue notices calling for public objections and then after scrutinizing only roads should be closed." He further added that there are various court orders states that ‘any public road closures is illegal’.
C.S.Chandrashekar added that these legal safeguards have been ‘completely ignored,’ and that the state government appears to be ‘completely unaware of these developments.’ The state government had prepared a report on effects on the public due to road closures.
The situation has left thousands of citizens who live and work in and around the Secunderabad Cantonment facing renewed hardship. The residents demand the state government and GHMC to roll back the term usage of alternative roads and replace it with new link roads.
