A single plot holding back flyover works

The failure to acquire one property has stalled work on the Biodiversity Junction flyover at Gachibowli, causing inconvenience to 4.5 lakh commuters every day, most of them thechies.

According to highly placed sources, the property allegedly belongs to the relatives of former chief minister Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy. There was also the reported involvement of the person who had drafted the designs of the Telangana Chief Minister’s Pragati Bhavan.

Due to the supposed associations with past and present leaders, the civic body remains helpless in addressing the issue. It is alleged that the petition in the court was filed by the close associates of the aide.

The High Court had stayed the work on the flyover July 18, based on a petition by Asian Global Infra Pvt. Ltd, stating that the GHMC had not given it permission to exploit a 2,515-square yard parcel of land in Gachibowli to construct a commercial complex but had issued notice to acquire land for widening the road to 65 metres.

Following the stay order, work has come to a standstill, causing severe inconvenience to commuters in what is believed to be the busiest junction in the IT corridor.

The civic body needs to shift a pipeline from the centre of the road on to this property. Sources said the GHMC had attempted to shift the pipeline without seeking acquistion of the property but had failed.

The GHMC has dug the road, reducing the existing width and simultaneously called for tenders for separate roads, to divert traffic. The project is supposed to be completed by March.