GHMC's woes to get new Foot over Bridges (FoBs) off the ground do not seem to end. Latest casualty seems to be the one proposed to replace the old FoB opposite Rail Nilayam in Secunderabad.
Having convinced the railway authorities on the site and just when the foundation was about to be dug a group of people claiming to be Saibaba temple protection committee members objected to the location stating that the structure was too near to the religious structure.
If the private agency which took up the work on a BOT basis under the ‘Fund Your City' campaign is left to twiddle its thumbs, the fate of other new FoBs especially those who got extensions of the ownership period by offering to set up lifts and escalators is uncertain.
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Only one old FoB opposite the L.V. Prasad Eye Hospital has installed escalators but it is yet to be made operational as the agency concerned is finding it difficult to locate an appropriate spot to put up a transformer among other issues.
Two other new ones are coming up at Filmnagar and Malaysian township, Kukatpally, with lifts only. The same agency is also trying to get one stalled FoB erected near the Narayanamma College at Gachibowli.
Rest of the more than 20 FoBs cleared with a 20 years BOT period so that lifts and escalators can be installed for the pedestrians convenience are not likely to see light of the day. Senior municipal officials have indicated that notices are being issued to the respective agencies to either start works or face cancellation of permits.
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These FoBs were to come up at various sites like the Afzalgunj bus station, Shadan College, Paradise circle, M.G. bus station, Masab Tank and so on. Yet, undeterred by the poor installation of the allotted FoBs, six more have recently been allotted to different agencies for new structures in June.
These are to come up at Hi-Tec City, Moosapet ‘Y' junction, Kukatpally, Secunderabad railway station, St. Ann's School Tarnaka, Begumpet (near Pantaloon showroom) and few other places. And, senior officials are keeping their fingers crossed on these coming up.