Hyderabad: Residents of colonies affected by the closure of the AOC roads are planning to hold a candlelight rally on February 14. The silent march is to protest against the road closure in the AOC and Andhra Sub area. This is the first time such a large-scale protest is being organized by residents in the area.

G.P. Raghu Raman from Sainikpuri colony said, “Currently, the detours that school children and officegoers have to take, have increased 3 - 5 times. This has put tremendous pressure on our time, energy and pocket. Due to the closure from 10 p.m. of key roads, the traffic on the alternative road is jam packed and crawling even at 11.30 pm. A new alternative road was recently proposed (to be constructed from R. K Puram Bridge to Safilguda and Safilguda to Marredpally) which will benefit only two circles (Malkajgiri and Safilguda) but will leave the rest of us living in the areas in and around the colonies of Saipuri which comes under Kapra division , Alwal / Bolaram and beyond, stranded.”


When it comes to the AOC area, the night restrictions from 10.00 PM to 7.00 AM, every day, are still on. The Gough road, Wellington, Allahabad and Safilguda route are kept open to the civilian traffic during the non-restricted hours. However, time and again, the local military authorities have been setting a deadline to close the rough road.

But in the Andhra Sub area, Puri Singh Marg, Gen Krishna Rao Marg, Surender Marg, Cariappa road, the route from Cantonment telephone exchange to Synergy plaza, road from BEPTA golf course to Lakdawala Junction, the road from BEPTS golf course to Balaji Nagar and the road from Navy house circle at the junction of Puri Singh Marg and Gen Krishna Rao Marg to the Andhra Sub area circle near Rashtrapathi Nilayam, gate number one has been closed.
The Army cites security reasons.