Army authorities have made it clear to Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) that they would go ahead with traffic restrictions on passage through the AOC after obtaining permission from the court.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court had on February 28 directed the Army not to block the roads. The Army is expected to respond to the court directive at a hearing on March 6.
At a meeting with representatives of over 60 RWAs in AOC on Sunday,
Army authorities explained to them the reasons for imposing restrictions on civilian traffic.
On defence land
In a press release, the Army said the roads were on ‘A1 defence lands’ and maintained by them.
Authorities said they were sensitive to and accommodative of the concerns of civil commuters and explained that there was need to improve infrastructure on existing municipal roads connecting colonies surrounding the AOC. A statement from the United Federation of Resident Welfare Associations of Greater Hyderabad said Army authorities told them that the meeting had not been convened for any negotiations, but to explain the AOC stand.
Meet on Tuesday
Officials from the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB), police and the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) will meet on Tuesday to chalk out alternative arrangements, Brigadier Dalip Singh said.
“The Army will go head with night-closure of roads after hearing from the High Court, and even day-time, in phased manner, Brig. Singh informed us,” said UFERWAS-Greater Hyderabad executive vice-president B.T. Srinivasan.