Hyderabad: Sudden, unwarranted special check in Kundanbagh sparks anger among residents

Hyderabad: Residents of Kundanbagh in Begumpet are facing inconvenience due to a ‘special drive’ being carried out suddenly and without any reason by Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials. The RTA officials, on the instructions of their seniors, have put up blockades in the area and are stopping vehicles to check documents. The one-way restrictions imposed on Kundanbagh roads a week ago took motorists by surprise as they were stopped for ‘no entry’, wrong side driving and wrong parking. This happened on the road next to Chinmaya School in Kundanbagh, which has been managed by the local community itself for many years. Local residents allege that the RTA team stopped vehicles of watchmen, garbage collectors, food distribution officials and employees working in nearby offices and shops belonging to the lowest strata of society.

“When the local MLA’s office workers tried to convince them, they started threatening. They even confiscated mobile phones of vehicle owners so that they could not escape,” said Major Shiva Kiran, a resident. Several vehicles have been confiscated in the past one week and impounded at the RTA office in Khairatabad. Questioning what was the point of suddenly imposing one-way, Kiran also confiscated two ‘Swachh Auto’ garbage vehicles plying in the area, which cover around 2500 houses of Umanagar and BS Maktha area and hamper garbage collection. Most of the Swachh autos may not have the required documents due to several issues related to coordination between GHMC-RTA and banks. Residents said Swachh autos cannot be stopped as they are performing an important function during the rainy season, especially when there is a possibility of spread of dengue and other diseases. Meanwhile, a senior RTA official said proper instructions were given and a special drive was carried out to ease traffic problems in busy areas, which would otherwise cause inconvenience to residents.