Toll tax abolition, reopening of five roads in Hyderabad & Secunderabad boost merger dream

SECUNDERABAD: With positive developments on two key issues, Secunderabad Cantonment citizens' hopes have revived over excision of civil areas and merging them into the neighbouring municipality. "These developments show a positive indication towards SCB-GHMC merger," a few Cantonment civilian organizations stated.
The merger issue was put on hold by the ministry of defence (MoD) as the poll notification was issued in February, 2023. As per the schedule, polls to 57 Cantonme-nts were supposed to be held on April 30, but deferred, after MoD cancelled the polls in a gazette notification. "Now, the merger process will become easy for the defence Ministry," residents told STOI. In the first development, the MoD has abolished toll tax in all 62 Cantonments, including SCB.

Toll tax was being collected from goods vehicles entering the SCB area. Even vehicles carrying goods purchased in twin cities had to pay toll tax to SCB.
The MoD reportedly noticed irregularities in toll tax collection at several cantonments and decided to abolish it. "If the merger happens, there will be no roadlocks for free movement of goods vehicles," a few resident welfare associations (RWAs) of the Cantonment opined.
In another major development, MoD has given the green signal to reopen five important link roads - Richardson Road, Protnee Road, Byam Road, Ammuguda Road and Albain Road - shut by local military authority (LMA). Residents of 850 of colonies in Malkajgiri, Kapra, and Alwal circles of GHMC, including Kowkoor, Balaji Nagar, Yapral, Sainikpuri, Vayupuri, AS Rao Nagar, ECIL, Neredmet, Safilguda, and Malkajgiri, have been using these roads and faced hardship due to their closure.
After MoD's decision, these roads would be reopened and SCB in coordination with GHMC and LMA has to provide infrastructure, a member of the Federation of North-Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad said.
Once, MoD gives its nod to the excision proposal, then civil areas of SCB would be merged in the abutting municipality. "The defence ministry's decision on reopening roads became a plus point in the merger issue. Apart from road connectivity, infrastructure projects such as skyways and foot-over-bridges and footpaths will be developed," a member of Secunderabad Cantonment Citizens' Welfare Association, opined.