Commuters using the Rajiv Rahadari through Hakimpet and Bolarum were surprised to see another road closed on Monday morning.
A short stretch of road starting at a sharp turn about 500 metres down south of Hakimpet Checkpost, was closed to civilian movement by the defence establishment. Locals of the area noticed boards alerting denied thoroughfare on Monday morning and informed member of ward 8, the elected representative of the area.
“Though it does not see a lot of regular civilian traffic, it is used to divert vehicles when VIP convoys passes through. Given the narrowness of the sharp turn nearby on the Rajiv Rahadari, closure of this road will prevent diversion,” said Jeetender Surana, who noticed the closure during a commute.
Residents in neighbourhoods of Secunderabad Cantonment and surrounding areas have moved court against closure of roads by the local military authority. The court had ruled in favour of the LMA two years ago, prompting the residents to file appeals based on fresh set of the orders given by the Ministry of Defence.
Ever since an order came from the Ministry of Defence dated January 7, 2015, resident groups opposing closure of roads have maintained that those roads closed in Secunderabad Cantonment have been done so without following procedure set out in the Cantonment Act. Army has maintained that the roads closed are not subject to the procedure. The matter had reached the High Court where it is pending.
More recently, an RTI application filed with the Defence Estate Officer of Secunderabad had revealed that six roads that were closed in Yapral-Bollarum area fall in Cantonment ‘C’ lands. Though the elected board members have assured residents that roads that were closed without following procedure would be opened, the roads remain closed.
