R’nagar-B’lingampally locals against flyover

Say `110 cr project is waste of money, unnecessary

Authorities from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) are facing stiff resistance from residents of Baghlingampally and Ramnagar following its decision to construct a second level flyover after acquiring 75 properties in the areas. Its projected cost is `110 crore.

Residents argue that the flyover is unnecessary considering that there is minimal traffic flow on the earmarked stretch even during peak hours. Many of them demanded the civic body make public a traffic impact assessment study before executing the project. Ironically, even some corporation officials feel that a second flyover, particularly the one at Ramnagar, was a waste of money.

The civic body has proposed to construct two new steel-bridge flyovers, one from Indira Park to VST main road, and the other from Ramnagar to Baghlingampally via VST junction. The 2.6km long flyover from Indira Park would be built at an estimated cost of `350 crore, whereas the three-lane bi-directional flyover from Ramnagar would involve an expenditure of `76 crore, which has since escalated to `110 crore following a change in its design. According to the revised proposal, the flyover’s landing has been extended from RTC kalyana mandapam to Dr B.R. Ambedkar degree college.

The proposed compensation amount has also drawn flak from those who will lose their properties.

Narasimhulu, resident of Baghlingampally, wondered how the authorities could acquire 65 prime properties without showing the traffic impact assessment study report.

“I have been living here for 40 years and the traffic has seen only a minimal rise. I feel that there are some vested interests behind the project,” he said.

K. Kamal Prasad from Ramnagar said that he had struggled all his life to pay monthly installments to own a house.

“How can GHMC pay `20 lakh for the property when its market price is over `60 lakh? The government has the right to acquire any property in public interest but why is it constructing a flyover when it will hardly serve any purpose,” he added.

Meanwhile, some residents from the two localities staged a protest at GHMC headquarters demanding that the flyover project be shelved.

A senior GHMC official said that the flyover from Indira Park to VST junction has long-term benefits. However, he said, the one from Ramnagar to Baghlingampally was not immediately required even after taking into consideration the future traffic needs.

THE CIVIC body has proposed to construct two new steel-bridge flyovers, one from Indira Park to VST main road, and the other from Ramnagar to Baghlingampally via VST junction.