Road closures in Secunderabad Cantt a no-show in Rajya Sabha, residents miffed

SECUNDERABAD: A section of residents were irked over the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD) failure in recognising closure of roads in the Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) limits in a question raised in the Rajya Sabha on March 2.
Andhra Pradesh MP Vijayasai Reddy sought details of closed roads in various cantonments across the country. The MP questioned whether it is a fact that due to road closure, general public are finding it difficult as they cannot pass through cantonment roads since barriers, checkposts and roadblocks have been installed by the Army.
While the response by the MoD did mention road closures in Bareilly and Amritsar cantonments, it did not find any mention of those closed in the Secunderabad cantonment.“It is a glaring error by the minister not to include these illegally closed roads in Secunderabad in his reply. It indicates a totally cavalier attitude of the defence ministry to this critical issue which affects lakhs of civilians daily,” said Jeethender Surana, secretary of All Cantonments Citizens Welfare Association.
According to a letter issued by the SCB to the MoD in 2018, Rajendra Singh ji road network, Hislop – Amherst road network and Gough road network are among the few roads which have been closed by the local military authorities. Commuters allege that the closure of arterial roads by the local military authorities results in long detours.
Residents living in Sainikpuri and its surrounding areas have sought a special board meeting by the SCB on the road closure issue. “Many roads closed in Secunderabad and they are no strategic importance; many running through the Golf course. Close down the golf course and open the roads,” tweeted ML Agarwal, a resident.