Diversion signs confuse public at Safilguda railway station

Hyderabad: A traffic diversion board has been put up at the Safilguda Railway station for commuters from Anand Bagh and surrounding areas in Malkajgiri using the AOC stretch.

Sources said that the expected restrictions will be extended from October 18 though no official announcement has been made by the Army.

Mr V. Suresh Kumar, a resident of Anand Bagh, said, “The board put up on September 10 reads, ‘Diversions Military station: Traffic curbs ahead.’ However on October 1, the restriction during night hours remained the same.”

The joint action committee, which mainly includes the residents’ welfare association of all affected colonies, is yet to meet Defence officials regarding further restrictions.

While the Army has gone ahead with the construction of a huge gate at the Allahabad entrance at East Marredpally, till date the two-member defence ministry team has not reached the city and there has been no development on creating alternative routes.

The last meeting was in August between local military authorities, the GHMC commissioner and the chief secretary to discuss alternate routes.

No further inspection was carried out by the Army or the state government. “The Army has agreed to part with its land to create a route; the municipal officials and the traffic police will have to chalk out a plan.

The GHMC had earlier proposed alternative routes — a 100-feet road from AOC to Safiguda Railway gate, a 60-feet road from Willington to Tirumulgherry Hanuman temple and a 100-feet road from AOC, EMC to RK Puram road overbridge stretch of 2 km.

“The Army has also suggested the use of the vacant land under Survey No. 292 (B-2 land), giving one-way access to commuters from RK Puram, Sainikpuri and areas up to Radhika Junction. But the state government needs a take quick decisions,? said Mr B.T. Srinivas, president of Malkajgiri RWA.