While the recent civilian traffic ban notification by the Army authorities through the AOC Centre has evoked sharp criticism from many quarters, residents of several colonies abutting the Secunderabad Cantonment complain that “securing” Army campuses began three years ago.
No-entry zones were set up in the Bison area and that process is being taken to the AOC Centre area, P. Srinivas, a resident of Bolarum said.
Before the roads were closed, commuters could use them to reach the core city centres quickly, but after the restrictions, they had to depend on the ever busy Karimnagar highway.
“Bison cantonment area has two churches - the Holy Trinity Church, a heritage monument, and St. Joseph Church. The Army authorities are now building walls around these churches and as a result we are left with no space for parking our vehicles when we go for our service,” Victor Amalraj, former Indian football captain and resident of Bolarum complained.
The situation was similar for the Valerian Grammer School, to which Army authorities were giving only ‘walking passes’ resulting in the decline of a once reputed school, he pointed out.
“The Army authorities have been imposing restrictions on the pretext of training requirements. Instead of creating huge golf courses, authorities could have used the same space to create training facilities,” B. Venkatesh, a retired Army officer pointed out.
“Many retired defence personnel have settled down in colonies around the cantonment to have easy access to medical, canteen facilities and also to be connected with the services. But these restrictions are causing problems to our families,” he pointed out.
