Come December, the AOC administration will close the Gough Road that connects AOC to Ramakrishnapuram. The move could see resident welfare associations erupt in protests and the GHMC draw intense criticism for not readying alternative roads.
“Word has been conveyed that AOC will close the Gough Road on December 1. Other roads will remain open as there are no alternate routes to them,” a senior army official said requesting not to be named.
The Gough Road runs nearly parallel to Hyderabad-Karimnagar State highway and is extensively used by residents of Marredpally, Trimulgherry, Sainikpuri and areas beyond, to commute to and from Secunderabad.
With its closing, dense traffic would be forced to ply on an already crowded highway and roads of Malkajigiri, which could see its narrow railway crossings and road under bridges overwhelmed.
While a decision to close AOC to civilians was taken nearly two years ago, it was only recently decided to completely close one of the roads.
The army had then partially restricted traffic movement through AOC but deferred closing roads bowing to civilian pressure and pending improvement of alternate roads.
For residents, army’s decision on Gough Road not only implies tougher commute but also conveys Centre’s disregard to several representations that were made in the interest of lakhs of denizens.
“Army claims it intimated local authorities who deny having information about the restrictions. We are also disappointed that roads are being closed without alternatives.
This will cause great unrest among road users and the civilian population,” general secretary of United Federation of Residents Welfare Associations B.T. Srinivasan said.
Army claims it intimated local authorities who deny having information about the restrictions. We are also disappointed that roads are being closed without alternatives
B.T. Srinivasan ,general secretary of United Federation of Residents Welfare Associations
