Residents of Malkajigiri have petitioned the local military authorities to defer closure of Gough Road, scheduled for June 1.
In their representation, members of representing resident welfare associations of Malkajigiri and surrounding areas mentioned that the State is working on providing citizens alternate to AOC roads. Pending development of these roads, closure would affect lakhs of commuters, they said while asking for postponement of the road’s closure.
AOC administration has maintained that it would go ahead with closure of Gough Road and has put up notice boards within AOC to intimate motorists. The closure of roads first was informed about two years ago, which attracted the ire of Malkajigiri residents.
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After few rounds of protests near Safilguda railway crossing, the residents held several discussions with the local military authorities. They also sought the Defence Minister’s intervention directly and through their elected representatives. The Defence Ministry refused to budge but agreed to defer closure until the State can develop alternative roads.
The State, in coordination with the Army and Defence Ministry, has conducted survey and devised a plan to develop two alternative roads; one 60 ft road from R.K. Puram flyover to Safilguda railway gate in lieu of Gough Road and another a 100 ft road connecting Safilguda railway gate to Allahabad Gate near East Marredpally.
The approaching closure of Gough Road has divided residential groups affected by it. A group of residents from north and north eastern parts of the city, including Yapral, Sainikpuri and Bolarum have united under the banner Open Secunderabad Cantonment Roads (OSCAR) to prevent and reverse road closure. Besides fighting closure in Bollarum areas, OSCAR has maintained that the closure of the roads is a violation of the Cantonments Act.
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