The Army in Secunderbad Cantonment threw open roads closed nearly four years ago, to civilian traffic on Tuesday.
More than half a dozen roads were reopened in the area enclosed by Bolarum, Yapral and Rashtrapati Nilayam. Residents ventured through the roads to ascertain if the roads were indeed opened.
Some of them also shared videos of their commute through the roads.
“This is a welcome move as it greatly eases commute. At least two more roads, the Lakadawala entrance and exit, as well as the road from Ammuguda bazaar beyond RSI towards the north of R.P. Nilayam, which have been walled, have to be opened,” said Pankaj Sethi, a Yapral resident who campaigned against the closure.
Roads that cut across the BEPTA Golf Course, those that lead south towards R.P. Nilayam from Hakimpet while skirting the golf course, and also those that connect Bolarum to Yapral were closed by the Army, in addition to implementation of night restrictions on AOC roads in 2014.
Night-time restrictions
The night-time restrictions in AOC were lifted earlier this month.
On Sunday, a communication from Defence Ministry informed that Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, in consultation with the Army, had ordered opening of all closed roads in cantonments across the country.
The minister’s orders come after her meeting with elected representatives from cantonments across the country earlier in May.
The recent order has now triggered demands from residents to open roads outside the cantonment that were closed.
“The road under Ramakrishnapuram flyover was closed after building a wall. Opening this road can ease traffic, particularly during peak hours, for neighbouring colonies and the army’s movement,” said C.S. Chandrashekar, a resident of Sainikpuri.
