Hyderabad activists cry foul as GHMC demolishes KBR Park wall

After an order by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) that asked the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to stop cutting of trees at KBR Park, the GHMC reportedly pulled down a wall of the park near Gate 5 on Tuesday.

This was part of its multi-crore road project, dubbed the Strategic Road Development Plan (SRDP) which aims to ease traffic at six massive junctions around the park, by constructing a multi-level flyover.

The Times of India reported:

The matter came to light around 4 pm on Tuesday when activists noticed a portion of the wall broken. While initial enquiries suggested that the wall had collapsed during the heavy showers that lashed Hyderabad last week, it was later found out that the structure had been pulled down to make way for the multi-crore SRDP.

Shilpa Sivakumaran, an activist presently fighting for the cause, told TOI that “When we reached the spot at around 6 pm and spoke to the security guards there, they told us that it was being done for the flyover project. We fail to understand just how the authorities can be so adamant."

The GHMC earlier claimed that a survey conducted by them, estimated that traffic volume at the KBR junctions could increase to 2.23 lakh cars a day from its present 1.02 lakh cars per day.

It also added that more than 30,000 litres of fuel was wasted everyday due to the idling at the signals, while adding that the project would reduce pollution by 55 per cent.

On May 2, the NGT ordered a stay on felling of trees in the park and stated that the next hearing would be held on May 27.