PVNR Expressway set to get major facelift

Rajendranagar: If you are passing through the ring road (under PVNR Expressway) don't be surprised for not finding the numbers on the main pillars, as this would be a part of HMDA's plan to give a facelift to the piers by re-arranging the numbers from starting to end point, besides promoting vertical gardening on them to drape the pillars with greenery.

With a view to giving a complete facelift, the HMDA has planned to take up vertical gardening on main pillars at important junctions under PVNR Expressway that starts at Sarojini Naidu Eye Hospital in Mehdipatnam and ends up at Aram Ghar X Road in Rajendranagar. There are total 325 pillars long PVNR Expressway, which stretch about 11 km. The bridge takes more than five curves before reaching the end point.

However, the makeover proposal has hit a road block as HMDA is facing with some legal issues with regard to the advertisement hoardings on the pillars. Some agencies have approached the court seeking relief from government norms and removal of the ads. While the metropolitan body is preparing to move ahead with its plan to strip all the piers of hoardings and flexi boards installed without permission

"The pillars are going through the process of facelift and after the completion of painting, the numbers will be re-arranged on the pillars according to their sequence," said Administrative Officer M Shyam Sundar.

When asked about some hoardings hanging on the pillars mostly at Attapur area, the officer said, "Some parties have erected hoardings with the permission, while others didn't follow the same. A case is also pending in the High Court against the removal of hoardings. Some parties have filed the case asking the court to direct the HMDA not to remove their advertisements from the pillars.

We are committed to take up the issue when the case will come up for hearing on June 20th. If we move on with our plan at this point, then this will land us into contempt of the court. So, we are moving cautiously. However, if we got an appropriate direction from the court in the next hearing, then would proceed further with our plan."

Affirming that a plan is in pipeline to promote vertical gardening on pillars at important junctions, the official said "A proposal was made to promote vertical gardening on pillars at important junctions under PVNR Expressway and even finalised, but we are yet to get the approval from the authorities concerned. We will move accordingly once we get the approval from the authorities."

However, the local people see the case of hoardings in a different way. They don't have any objection with these hoardings and flexi boards, but they do feel offended with the way they were being erected by subduing the vegetation spreads at the piers and median.

"These advertisements are killing the vegetation on the median, as some of the hoardings are fixed in such a manner that the lush green plants over and near the piers are pushed behind the flexi boards putting their survival into danger," said Mohammed Jahingir Area Sabha Member Hassan Nagar.