Five civilian roads in Bolarum within the Secunderabad Cantonment remain closed despite the Telangana Police solving the firearms theft case that prompted the restrictions, leaving nearly 3.5 lakh residents and daily commuters facing long detours and worsening traffic congestion.
The Local Military Authorities have not yet reopened Richardson Road, Ammuguda Road, Holy Trinity Church Road, Protnee Road and Byam Road, according to the Federation of North-Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad. The roads were closed after an arms theft was reported at the 20th Battalion, Madras Regiment, on August 31.
The Malkajgiri Police have officially solved the high-profile firearms heist and completed their primary investigation, but the road restrictions continue. Resident welfare groups, motorists and commuters have now urged the Local Military Authorities to lift the closures and restore normal access through the affected parts of the cantonment.
The closures have forced commuters to use alternative routes that add between 5 and 8 kilometres to daily journeys. Residents say the diversions have increased travel times by 40 to 50 minutes, particularly for people travelling to workplaces through the Secunderabad Cantonment area.
The traffic burden has also shifted to bypass roads, where motorists are facing bumper-to-bumper congestion. The Federation of North-Eastern Colonies of Secunderabad said the prolonged restrictions were causing continued inconvenience to residents and commuters, with daily travel becoming more difficult in the prevailing high temperatures.
The dispute highlights the practical consequences of restricting civilian movement through roads located in areas under military administration. While the closures were imposed following a security incident, the continued lack of reopening after the police investigation has ended has left local communities seeking clarity on the next administrative step.
The affected roads serve residential colonies and connect commuters to surrounding parts of the cantonment and Secunderabad. Their closure has therefore created a wider mobility problem rather than limiting disruption to the immediate vicinity of the 20th Battalion.
Resident groups and commuters are seeking the immediate reopening of the five roads. The Local Military Authorities have not, according to the report, announced a reopening date or detailed the conditions that must be met before civilian traffic can resume.
