Demanding that all closed cantonment roads be reopened, citizen groups have written to Defence Minister and authorities in Secunderabad to implement orders issued last month to the same effect.
The contentious issue of road closure that has seized cantonments for four years now took a turn in favour of those demanding reopening. In Secunderabad Cantonment, groups that have protested closure, celebrated when orders issued on May 21 communicated the opening of all public roads closed without following procedure.
Nearly a month after the orders, civil society groups and residents claim not all closed roads have been reopened. They reached out to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and the CEO of Secunderabad Cantonment, listing roads that have not been reopened. The denizens have taken up the matter of closure again in view of the 30-day period.
In its orders issued last month, it was stated that traffic conditions would be monitored on roads reopened for 30 days. Alongside army concerns of safety, convenience of civilians and other factors that may influence closure, an assessment of the road for future closure was to be made after the end of the 30-day duration. Arguing that relief to citizens has been limited following last month’s orders, the Federation of North Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad submitted representation to the CEO of SCB. The organisation has claimed 14 roads remain closed.
