CLEARING ROADBLOCKS: A religious structure on the recently widened road in the city. - Photo: D. Gopalakrishnan

HYDERABAD: The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH) has managed to do something where it has more often failed than succeeded, that is to convince `managements' of religious structures to shift or make alterations for allowing widening of roads.

In the last few months, at least six religious structures belonging to majority and minority communities have been realigned or are in the process of being done so, and officials claim negotiations with many others are `delicately poised'.

Success ratio

Success ratio has relatively been quite high on Balkampet road where the widening process is in its final stage. Four religious structures, including the famous Yellamma temple and `chilla,' are on the way and the MCH has persuaded people in charge to allow changes.

In return, the MCH undertook some out-of-the-box methods and agreed to do a few civil works like building a retaining wall, a slab, water tank and the likes rather than pay any compensation for land. Saibaba temple and another dedicated to goddess Bayamma form the list. Of course, having local corporator and BJP Floor leader Shyam Sundar Goud on its side has been a big help.

If the road is still not ready it is not because of religious structures but due to delay in getting electric poles removed.

The Central Power Distribution Company Limited has already begun laying underground power cables and work is to be completed in a month.

On S.P. Road, too, opposite Anand theatre, the Anjaneya Swamy temple authorities have consented to give vacant land facing the road for widening in lieu of MCH allowing them to build shops.

Despite initial reservations, they have also allowed giving a small portion of land for relocating a temple (right now on the road centre) dedicated to a local goddess in a corner.

In old city

Even in the conservative old city, the MCH has persuaded a couple of mosque committees on the Charminar-Falaknuma road to allow widening near their entrances.

The religious places have been spruced up in return.

A private graveyard, too, has been taken over on the Ameerpet road but there are still over 160 religious structures obstructing the carriageway across the twin cities.

A few deals were almost clinched for realigning a religious place on Banjara Hills before it fell through for various reasons, indicating the tough task involved.

"We have been trying to persuade persons involved in maintaining religious structures to have an amicable settlement," says Additional Commissioner (Planning & Projects) K. Dhananjaya Reddy.

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