Hydraulic bollards project hit by electricity glitches

Charminar: It has been about 8 months since the project of installing hydraulic bollards began near Charminar, to prevent vehicles from entering the 50-foot radius of the historic monument. While on the Gulzar Houz side (northern side), these became operational, the second phase hit a roadblock owing to lack of coordination between departments.

For one of the much-hyped proposals as part of Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP), the private agencies as part of the second phase on Lad Bazar (western side) finished their part, but onus of making these functional has rested with the electricity department for the past 2-months.

The project of installing hydraulic bollards started in May and in its first phase works near Gulzar Houz side were completed by July. But the second phase works near Lad Bazar, which were started in the month of September hit a road block, even after their installation in October, as the electricity department is yet to give power connection.

Even as the contractors overcame several complications like old drain water line of Nizam period, water pipeline, old cables of BSNL and Tata cable, 11kv current wires, which cropped up, the works were completed by October, but delay in providing power supply to make it operation has been blamed for the

delay.

According to nearby shopkeeper, the works were completed in the last week of October, once the power connection is given bollards will be installed and become operational. "During this project, the road was dug up for almost two months, affecting the business at busiest street near Charminar, the Lad Bazar. After that the works were completed in October, they are awaiting provisions like power supply. I fear that this road may be dug up again, once again discouraging the shoppers," said Akbar Ali, an owner of readymade Shop.

Before taking up these works grounds were made by clearing off all the hawkers from the vicinity. "Officials were very concerned about the project, but when all the works are completed there appears to be no urgency in making them functional," observed Mohammed Murtuza, a commuter.

According to an official source, the works were completed and the only work left is to install the hydraulic bollards. This is being delayed owing to the delay in providing supply of electricity. "As soon as the project gets the electric cable connection, the process of installing of hydraulic bollards will be completed within a week," he added.