The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : No traffic through Moula Ali kaman

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jan 23, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

No traffic through Moula Ali kaman

Staff Reporter

A wall to be constructed to bar entry of vehicles as the arch is declared ‘unsafe’

— PHOTO: NAGARA GOPAL

Ready for restoration: Vehicles will not be allowed till the Archaeology Department submits its report on the kaman’s structural stability.

HYDERABAD: Here’s some sombre news for those commuting between Kushaiguda and Tarnaka stretch. The Roads and Buildings Department has decided not to allow traffic through the decades-old Moulali Kaman from Saturday as it was declared ‘unsafe’.

A wall will be constructed tomorrow to bar the entry of vehicles. With this, motorists have to travel two kilometres more to reach Tarnaka via Housing Board Colony, ZTC and Lalapet flyover instead of directly coming from the Kaman. The R&B Department officials said vehicles would not be allowed till Archaeology Department submits its report on the structural stability along with completion of restoration works.

Authorities said that traffic restrictions were enforced based on directions given by the High Court a few days ago. The court advised R&B Department to construct a wall to prevent movement of traffic through the arch as it is in a dilapidated condition and it may fall down any time. The court has also asked the department to file a compliance report.

After a technical committee comprising officials from JNTU and R&B Department declared the arch as unsafe in 2007, a committee with authorities from Municipal Administration and Urban Development, Wakf Board, Archaeology Department and GHMC was constituted to look into restoration and safety aspect of the arch.

A unanimous decision on preventing traffic under the arch was also taken during a meeting convened with the religious leaders, corporators -- Bharathi Raju and Prem Kumar, DCP (Alwal) A. Chandrasekhar Reddy, ACP (Malkajgiri) P.V. Padmaja, Malkajgiri Circle Deputy Municipal Commissioner John Samson, R&B Department Executive Engineer K. Jaipal Reddy and Deputy Executive Engineer S. Ashok here on Friday. Mr. Samson said plans have been drawn up to develop slip roads near the Kaman. “We will start the work immediately after getting clearance from higher officials,” he explained.

Senior police officials also promised to discuss with RTC authorities on diverting buses through Housing Board Colony. “We will take necessary steps to ensure smooth flow of traffic from Housing Board and its connecting areas,” said ACP Padmaja.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh