Service roads lose their purpose, turn cash cow for encroachers

LB Nagar: A service road is built parallel to a main road or interstate road, that connects the localities developed along the highway. But when a service road meant for ease of public access was encroached upon then the entire concept of service road goes for a toss.
 
The service road from LB Nagar to Fisalbanda via Mandamallamma cross roads has been encroached by persons with vested interests. The land grabbers are set to gain from the high property prices in the area, which they got without much of investments. Though locals complained about the usurping of service road umpteen times, the response from municipal officials has been cold. There have been instances of accidents involving commuters especially children and aged as the land grabbers did not leave any place for motorists. Local leaders, who put one foot forward, rented the service roads, and earning good profits without any investment. 

For instance, there is a service road near bus stop beside Nagarjuna School at Gayatri Nagar cross roads. But it was rented to nursery. Local residents complained the same to the municipal officials. But there is no response from the officials. As the service road was encroached, the school students were forced to approach the main road. Ramesh Reddy of Maitri Nagar said that when they approached the GHMC, the officials advised them to complain the issue to Jillelaguda Municipal officials. When the approached Jillelaguda officials, they advised the complainant to approach GHMC, he lamented. 

Apart from this, the marble shop owners encroached the two sides of the road from Sagar Ring Road to Gayatri Nagar Cross Roads via Ayyappa Swamy temple. The encroached service road was laid some eight years back, at the time inner ring road construction, to provide transport facility to the residents of the both sides. Flood drains also constructed to both sides of the road. Taking advantage of the officials’ lack of supervision, some people filled the drains with mud and constructed shops upon them. 

Vanga Manohar Reddy, a resident of Karmanghat said that though he complained directly to Minister KTR on the encroachment of roads, but nothing has happened. The locals have started questioning the integrity of both public representatives and officials when service roads laid with crores of rupees reached into the hands of vested interests. They demanded to register criminal cases against encroachers and bring the service roads back in use for public. 

BY Pasunuru Venkatesh