Residents up in arms over road widening project in Secunderabad

Hyderabad: Scores of people gathered near the Rythu Bazaar on Alwal main road on Sunday morning to launch a protest against the proposed 200-feet road widening elevated corridor project.

“So far, it’s only been a few people that have regularly volunteered to fight for the cause, and it’s proven to be ineffective. We need a collective effort if we want to win the battle, so I urge all of you to do your bit by putting up boards displaying the message ‘Reduce road width to 100 feet’ as soon as possible,” said Rajiv Rahadhari Property Joint Action Committee (JAC) chairman Telukunta Satish Gupta, urging property owners to put up boards displaying slogans outside their properties to put more pressure on the state govt to call off the project.

“The local MLA and MP use this road regularly, and there are over 2,000 properties along the road. So if residents put up boards, they will definitely come to the notice of the lawmakers,” said SK Lokesh, a techie who resides on Karkhana main road.

Fears that the project will be implemented soon escalated after the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) struck a deal with the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) on July 8 to use 113 acres of defence land to build the corridor on state highway 1.

Residents say they have held several meetings with govt officials, particularly with district collector Harichandana Dasari, MLA Sri Ganesh, and MP Etala Rajender, but claim their response has been vague and inconsistent. While unofficial sources peg the compensation amount at twice the govt rate per square yard, residents say they are entitled to compensation based on market value.

“The MLA keeps bringing up minor issues in the state assembly but not once has he mentioned anything about our problem, which will impact so many people. We are not against the project; we only ask that it is done within 100 feet, something that was achieved even in the busiest zones of the city like Gachibowli and Hitech City,” Lokesh added.

“I was part of many meetings with the collector and other officials to discuss the issue, but not in a single meeting has the government actually been serious about hearing the concerns of the people and resolving it,” said a government official who participated in the protests, on condition of anonymity.

“HMDA officials came and measured the dimensions of my shop six to eight months ago and left without making any mention of compensation. This shop is my only source of livelihood. If it is demolished, I will be left helpless,” said Rajakumar, who runs a tenthouse shop near the Shiva temple in Bollarum colony.

The protests ended at 11:30 am with chants of ‘We want justice’ and a road blockade that caused a traffic congestion for a few minutes. Members of the JAC said they plan to hold a bandh and a protest directly in front of the collector’s office in the coming days.