In a few days from now, when commuters find the driving from Punjagutta to Ameerpet hassle free, they will have to thank Hyderabad traffic police ACP (West) Shaik Masoom Basha.
With months of negotiations and persuasions coupled with Metro Rail builder’s initiative to give huge compensation, the ACP created more carriage way at the ever crowded Shalimar Junction near Punjagutta. The road space created from the junction up to Big Bazar showroom will surely give relief from the frequent traffic snarls from Punjagutta to Ameerpet.
Mr. Basha’s success is noteworthy because in a city where even an attempt to remove a tiny religious structure on road triggers communal tension, he secured nearly 200 square yards of land from the tomb belonging to Imad-ul-Mulk who was teacher of the VII Nizam. The tomb abutting the road from Shalimar Junction to Ameerpet had been there for several decades. From Punjagutta to the intersection, the road is fairly wide and vehicles move in several lanes. On reaching Shalimar Junction, the road becomes narrower towards Ameerpet.
The massive traffic moving towards Ameerpet soon after the signal turns green at Punjagutta, gets stuck at Shalimar ‘T’ junction. It forces all commuters to slow down and sometimes ripple effect throws traffic movement out of gear till Punjagutta. Erection of pillars for Metro Rail further shrunk the road space on this route. “Widening the road even by a few feet would surely help in free flow of vehicles. When I thought of asking the tomb land, many were sceptical,” Mr. Basha told The Hindu . But he didn’t give up. He met the tomb caretaker and through the latter convinced everyone connected to the tombs land that sparing part of it helps thousands of commuters using the road daily. “Some of the family members of Imad-ul-Mulk live abroad and they have sentimental attachment to the land since their close family members’ graves were inside,” the ACP explained.
Simultaneously, he discussed about the plan with city police top brass, GHMC bosses and Metro Rail authorities. The latter came forward to pay nearly Rs. 2 crore compensation for the piece of land to be acquired from the tomb. Finally, everyone agreed. Without any delay, the old compound wall of Imad-ul-Mulk tomb was demolished and a new one was constructed. The newly created space becomes usable within a few days once the BT road is laid.
“Nothing wrong in making an attempt. It is not my individual achievement but an exercise done in the interest of society,” says the ACP, who worked as teacher before joining police department as DSP in 2012.
