Residents of Federation of North Eastern Colonies resist LMA’s move to close SCB roads
Hyderabad: Federation of North Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad (FNECS), a residents’ welfare association, has reiterated that they will continue to oppose the the closure of existing roads in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) and in other regions that do not fall under Cantonment by the Local Military Authorities (LMA).
The Federation members said they welcome the excision and merger of civilian areas of SCB with areas under GHMC, however, they will not agree to any proposal seeking a closure of existing roads. It is pertinent to note that recently the officials of GHMC, Commissioner and LMA officials held a meeting to discuss the issue.
No progress was made during the meeting over the issue of excision and merger of the civilian areas with GHMC. Both sides fail to reach consensus on a proposed alternative road circumventing the Army establishments.
A delegation from the LMA also met GHMC Commissioner K Ilambarithi to discuss the details of the compensation payable in lieu of the land forgone for laying of the road between AoC and RK Puram. The civic body plans to lay a 6-kilometre road and it will require 42 acres of Defence land. The LMA is seeking a compensation of Rs 450 crore towards the land that has to be foregone.
Highlighting the potential traffic congestion issues in the SCB area, the members said over 20 lakh people from 3 GHMC circles Malkajgiri, Alwal and Kapra use the available roads for daily commuting and closure of any of these roads would cause a great inconvenience to the regular public.
The members further said all SCB roads have been in public use for over 200 years and Army authorities have no authority to close these thoroughfares to the public.
