Construction of flyover: Clear and present danger

By K.V.S. Madhav

HYDERABAD, OCT. 2. It is a flyover which was heading in no direction as planners pondered over its landing. And, now it has suddenly decided to descend on the houses of Gaganmahal residents.

Standing motionless for nearly two years now in front of the Secretariat, the "monument of rank bad planning and design" is back in the news with hapless residents being slapped notices of land acquisition. Intimidating ones that threaten to demolish the roof over their heads.

If action follows, about 300-400 people residing along the Lower Tank Bund road would be affected by the demolition and obviously they are up in arms. "This flyover is a big mistake," they fume criticising the Government for frequently changing the flyover alignment plans.

"We have made umpteen representations to everyone, including the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, on the matter but in vain. We have no other choice but to go to the court," the residents under the banner of Sri Katta Maisamma Residents Welfare Association said in unison here on Monday.

Former IIT professor and association president, Mrs. Indira Mahadevan, says the manner in which the notices were served on a few residents was intriguing. "Why did the officials do it so hastily after doing nothing for two full years? This could be a pre-meditated move taking advantage of the court vacation", she alleges.

What galls the residents is the changing alignment of the flyover. "Everytime there's a hue and cry, its alignment has been changed as in the case of protests against the removal of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's statue and a dargah which come in its path," fumes association treasurer, Mrs. C. Kalindi.

"Graveyards, dhobi ghats and star hotels will not be touched. It is only the middle class homes which come in the way because we have no voice," she says, very agitated. The flyover originally was to have three arms--one onto upper Tank Bund, another towards Basheerbagh and a slip ramp behind BRK Bhavan.

If the Government had stuck to the original plan, "our houses would not have been in jeopardy," points out, Mr. M.R. Rao, a resident.

Mrs. Mahadevan also has a suggestion of laying the flyover ramp beyond the temple with 7.5 metre width which according to her would give "two service roads of six metre width on either side of the piers. This will also solve the problems of pilgrims thronging the Katta Maisamma temple every week".

Says Mr. Krishnamurthy, former employee of A.P. Fisheries, who has a restaurant on the road, "We have invested Rs.10 lakhs and employed 25 people. What will happen to all that?," he asks. Many residents plead that the Government should spare their houses if only because the area has several retired people. "In this ripe age we should be saved of this ordeal," says one resident.

"The Chief Minister harps on public involvement. But, there was no public hearing on the flyover plans. Even now we do not know which way the flyover is heading," a resident frets highlighting the need for more transparency which the Government keeps talking about.

Even as the residents wait with bated breath over where the ramp would finally be landed, the residents had decided to send a distress signal--SOS. This time it means `Save our Structures'. The urgency of the plea was bold and clear. That they were in danger and need help quickly.

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