Resident Welfare Associations (RWA) in the Secunderabad Cantonment area and the Army officials seem to be on a collision course once again as the former claim that the defence authorities are now constructing permanent gate posts at important locations. This, the associations claim is to “bar civilians from commuting through their roads.”
A quick visit to the Cantonment area showed that the Army authorities are indeed working on what seems like a gate at the Allahabad Gate, which connects the road from East Marredpally to Sainikpuri and Safilguda.
Members of the Resident Welfare Association Joint Action Committee also mentioned that similar gates are being constructed at West Marredpally and another on the way to Sainikpuri.
“The Army authorities claim that they want to close the roads connecting Malkajgiri and Salfilguda due to security reasons. But the buildings that fall on either side of these stretches are just recreational centres like the swimming pool and playing ground,” points out B. T. Srinivasan of the United Federation of Resident Welfare Associations (UFRWA). Mr. Srinivasan also said that after a similar situation arose in Pune, the civic authorities worked along with the Army officials, and decided to improve security in the defence areas.
“Also, if you look at their buildings, they all are 100 metres away from the main road, so there is nothing to disturb them,” he added.
Ramakanth, a member of the RWA Joint Action Committee (RWAJAC) also pointed out that over 13 lakh people will be affected if the Army authorities install gates and close the areas.
“We have been using these routes for over 40 years. We had even met Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, and he said that a two-member committee would be sent to review the problem, and provide a solution,” he said. Mr. Srinivasan also claimed that the defence authorities do not permit school buses to use their roads early in the morning.
“Previously they used to let school buses pass early in the morning at least,” he added. As of now, the routes are closed from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m. everyday, barring civilians from entering the Army areas.
Prior to this, when the Army authorities had decided to impose restrictions on the AOC roads, the RWAJAC members protested, after which meetings were held with the GHMC officials to identify and build alternative routes.
“Officials had come to identify routes, but after that nothing has happened,” said Sai Kumar, another RWA member.
In spite of repeated efforts, Army officials and GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar could not be reached for comments.
13 lakh people will be affected if the Army authorities install gates and close the areas
