City to glow in 'year of lights'

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 28. Hyderabad will become the best lit city in the country following the Government's decision to permit installation of modern lighting on roads which are 60 feet wide. Of the 60 roads where the lighting is to be put up at a cost of Rs. 2.5 crores, 10 have already been identified, according to Dr. P.K. Mohanty, MCH Commissioner.

He told a press conference here on Thursday after a visit by the City-level Coordination Committee to several areas that 2000 would be the `year of lights.' The MCH would soon dismantle the highmast lights that have been put up at important road junctions in the twin cities.

Dr. Mohanty stated that the Government had recently issued three G.O.s permitting installation of modern lighting. Eighty per cent of the work would be entrusted to a Singapore firm which has quoted the lowest bid. Two Indian firms -- Philips and Bajaj -- would share the balance.

The committee, he said, had decided to allow intensive road- cutting for a month. "We will request people to put up with this work till October 30. Efforts will be concentrated on road- widening and lighting."

Dr. Mohanty and Mr. M.G. Gopal, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director, HMWSSB, reprimanded the A.P. Telecom for allowing cutting of the road across its breadth close to Raj Bhavan and clumsily filling the breach.

Admonishing a telecom official, a worked up MCH Commissioner said: "How can you do this? This is a VIP road. This is gross irresponsibility. The way it has been done, we have to file a criminal complaint against the contractor. It shows no respect for law and VIPs. You set it right first". Mr. Gopal, too, followed suit. "I will sue you," he warned the official.

Dr. Mohanty and other members of the committee also took serious view of the action of Kesari Hanuman temple authorities at Begumpet for putting up a compound wall blocking the flow in the nala under the bridge, and also for encroaching two vends. The MCH Commissioner said that the wall would be rebuilt at a cost of Rs. 2 lakhs by the civic body in such a way that the flow would not be hindered.

After inspecting the removal of obstacles along the nala, Dr. Mohanty said the use of 10 poclains in the work would continue till the month-end.

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Section  : Southern States
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