MCK to give face-lift to Alugunur crossroads at a cost of Rs 1 crore

K M Dayashankar

The decision to install a statue of Dr BR Ambedkar on a road divider on the state highway had raised several eyebrows for violating the Supreme Court directives

Following the SC directives, then district administrators had installed the statue of former Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao in a mango grove in Vangara village, the native of PV.

KARIMNAGAR: The Municipal Corporation of Karimnagar (MCK) is taking all measures to give a face-lift to the Alugunur crossroads on the outskirts of Karimnagar town, which is also the entry point into the town, with the beautification of the traffic island and junction at a cost of Rs 1 crore.

It may be recalled that the Alugunur village on the outskirts of Karimnagar town was merged with the MCK two years ago and included as the eighth municipal division of the corporation. Accordingly, the MCK authorities had launched the laying of the drinking water pipeline to the Alugunur from the town and taking up other developmental works.

Manakondur legislator Rasamayi Balakishan, who represents the Alugunuru municipality, along with Mayor Y Sunil Rao, local corporator Salla Sharada and others had formally launched the developmental works by participating in the groundbreaking ceremony at Alugunur crossroads on Sunday. On this occasion, the legislator said that the MCK had decided to develop and beautify the entrance of Karimnagar town at Alugunur by developing a traffic island, dividers and installation of the statue of Ambedkar.

The legislator said that the bronze statue of Father of Indian Constitution Dr BR Ambedkar would be installed on the divider of the state highway as part of the beautification of the junction. However, the decision to install the statue on the main road divider is likely to create controversy in Karimnagar town.

The Supreme Court 2013 directives had clearly stated that no states shall grant permission for installation of statue or construction of any structure on public roads, pavements, sideways and other public utility places, which would obstruct traffic.

The locals say that all the statues installed in various parts of Karimnagar town and on the highways were illegal as there was no permission from any authorities concerned. They suggested that the MCK authorities, who are developing a walking track and beautification of shores of the LMD reservoir, make arrangements for the relocation of all the statues installed in various parts of the town and roads to ease traffic congestion and adhere to Supreme court directives.

hindudayashankar