Trees ‘blind’ motorists, set to be chopped

Hyderabad: The biodiversity flyover, barely over the rash of accidents, is reeling yet again in another controversy. The traffic police has written to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation claiming that the trees planted in the centre median just 200 metre before the Level 2 flyover are obstructing a clear view of the elevated corridor.

This apart, the tress are also covering the indicative signboards, thereby leaving drivers unaware of the stipulations. This is endangering the view of motorists and leading to accidents. According to the highly places sources, the traffic police asked the corporation to chop or remove the trees on the 200-metre stretch.

The civic body would spend `3 lakh to remove the trees between Khajaguda junction and beginning of the flyover. There are two boards in the main, one directing drivers to take right to take the flyover and the other advising them of the speed limit (40 kmph).

A senior GHMC official, on condition of anonymity, told Deccan Chronicle that the traffic police have making a mountain out of mole ever since the accident occurred on November 23, when a speeding car crashed off the flyover and claimed the life of a woman.

The official said that though the accident occurred due to the speeding and negligence of the driver, the traffic police have been pointing fingers at the corporation.

The official said that the instructions were given to the urban bio-diversity wing to chop or re-locate the trees at the earliest.

“If we chop the trees, the National Green Tribunal will be after us. In order avoid legal issues, instructions were given to translocate the trees to different locations. We are not sure if the trees will survive if they are translocated but the corporation has instructions from the higher officials to spend `30,000 on each tree,” the official added.