Residents of neighbourhoods in northern reaches forced the army to lay asphalt on Gough Road by attempting to repair it on Sunday.
The Gough Road, particularly the stretch measuring a few hundred meters extending from the All-Saints Road intersection towards the NSG Regional Hub, had remained in a bad shape for over a year after sustaining heavy damage following last year’s rains. Vehicular movement over the road has been woefully impacted, prominently during peak hours, as deep potholes impede movement and pose trouble in navigating vehicles. Given the limited visibility on the road during late hours, many motorists unfamiliar were at risk of injury following sunset.
About a week ago, the group, under the aegis of Federation of Northeastern Colonies of Secunderabad that includes several neighbourhoods around Sainikpuri, first arrived to repair potholes. With mud to fill the holes, the group, comprising many senior citizens, worked. A repeat was planned on Sunday. Around 20 people gathered at the spot. As they started working, they were joined by many passers-by.
The concerned citizens worked tirelessly for an hour before some people came to stop the work. “We informed that we are only fixing a damaged road and said we will relent if the road is repaired,” said C.S. Chandrashekar, one of participants in Sunday’s programme.
Army joins effort
An hour into their road-repair work, the Military Engineering Service sent out men, equipment and material to lay the road. Traffic on either side was stopped for a while when the road was being laid. Satisfied with the outcome of their efforts, the civilians left. With the road now repaired, commute has been hastened. The group, however, is not resting.
“Our demand and hope is that the road can be widened. It is too narrow and takes a huge amount of traffic,” Mr. Chandrashekar added.
The Gough Road is one of the Army Ordnance Corps (AOC) roads that is set to be closed by local military administration. The area has been out of bounds between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. for civilian traffic for more than two years.
A few roads in AOC, besides others elsewhere in Secunderabad Cantonment, have been permanently closed to civilian traffic at the same time the AOC restrictions came into force.
