SCB working out a mutual solution with army officials on road closure
HYDERABAD: Several objections pertaining to road closure have been sent to the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) by cantonment residents, said board’s CEO Madhukar Naik.
He said that all objections will be presented before the Local Military Authority (LMA) officials who had ordered closure of six roads, at a board meeting shortly. The intention is to arrive at a mutually agreeable solution, he said.
The Secunderabad Cantonment Citizen’s Welfare Association demanded that the walls, gates and barriers blocking the roads be removed so as to restore movement of traffic.
“We strongly object to the proposal that permanent closure of roads used by lakhs of people is the only solution to enhance security when many effective and proven solutions are available,” said the association.
Association members added that since the SCB had sought suggestions, they had proposed that the board use its under Sec 258(1) of Cantonments Act, 2006 to open any road for public use.
The LMA is going through the process as established by the Cantonment Act, which is clear that closure of roads was to protect station troops, said the CEO.
“The first step has been taken where the LMA has urged road closures for security concerns and the process of inviting objections has been taken up. The objections will be considered by the board. A pragmatic decision will be taken in the interest of the military and the residents,” he said.
Most of the objections are about having to travel longer distances because of the closure of roads. Association members said that they need to travel an extra eight kilometres each way.
SCB member J. Rama Krishna said that he had disagreed with the proposal to close the roads. However, due to the LMP and the previous CEO Ajith Reddy comprising a majority, the process has begun.
“The road closure is illegal. They were open for many years and suddenly closing them causes a huge loss for the public and is also a national wastage,” he said.
