Banjara Hills bridge plan hits furniture mall hurdle

HYDERABAD: Another steel bridge proposed on Road No 3, Banjara Hills, at Nagarjuna Circle has hit a roadblock now. A private property (furniture mall) located adjacent to the graveyard towards Nagarjuna Circle has become a major hurdle for the steel bridge to take off, forcing the authorities to redesign the bridge plan now.
Though the property would not come in the way of construction of the steel behemoth, entrance to the furniture mall will have to be totally blocked once the bridge comes up.Senior GHMC officials got into the action by asking the consultant to redesign the bridge, weaving the closure of the entrance of the mall into the project plan.
“In a week, the new design will be finalised,” a senior official told TOI. Initially, the bridge sketch had vehicles being allowed from electricity HT line tower (opposite Times House) up to Nagarjuna Circle, en route Chutneys by crossing the furniture mall and the graveyard. “During the inspection, we found that the proposed steel bridge will block the entrance of the furniture mall,” the official in the engineering wing said, Regarding Chutneys property, a GHMC official said a small portion would be affected and added that demarcation of the said land would be taken up. GHMC has already completed the tender process for the mega project, aimed at overcoming the traffic gridlock on the arterial stretch. “We are aiming to complete the bridge within six months,” the official added.
A dire need for the steel bridge was felt following spurt in road accidents on stretch close to the decades old graveyard, which is a major bottleneck on Banjara Hills Road. Officials say the steel bridge, once completed, will provide a huge relief to thousands of commuters from LV Prasad Eye Institute and heading towards Nagarjuna Circle, Punjagutta, Ameer pet and Be gumpet.