HMDA takes up face lift work under PVNR Expressway

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 into beautiful ambience.

With a view to give a complete facelift the HMDA has planned to take up vertical gardening on main pillars of important junctions under PVNR Expressway that starts from Sarojni Naidu eye hospital Mehdipatnam and ends up at Aram Ghar X Road under Rajendranagar.

There are total 325 pillars under the 11 kilometers long PVNR Expressway that holds the entire stretch of flyover bridge on their shoulders starting from Mehdipatnam to Aram Ghar X Road. Pillar No.1 starts from Sarojini Naidu eye hospital Mehdipatnam and ends up at Pillar No. 325 at Aram Ghar X Road Rajendranagar. There are more than 5 curves the bridge takes before reaching to end point.

However, the proposal on its way to execution hit a road block as HMDA is facing some legal issues with regard to the advertisement hoardings on the pillars as 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 from hoardings and flexi boards carrying advertisements without permission.

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

When asked about some hoardings hanging over the pillars only at Attapur area while other areas a free from the same, the Officer clarifies that "some parties have erected the hoardings with the permission while some 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 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 20th of June this month. If we move on with our plan at this point of time then this will land us into contempt of court. So we are moving cautiously. However, if we got an appropriate direction from the court in the next hearing then will proceed further with our plan."

Affirming that a plan is in pipe line to promote vertical gardening on pillars at important junctions, the official said "though 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 concern. 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. Thought 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 near the piers are pushed behind the flexi boards putting their survival into danger," said Mohammed Jahingir Area Sabha Member Hassannagar.