Does the Army not feel threatened by civilian entry to the golf course?�

The northern part of the Secunderabad Cantonment, where 13 arterial roads were closed by the local military authorities, houses the headquarters of the TS-AP  sub-area. This pocket of the cantonment has fewer sensitive defence establishments and largely consists of 410 acres of Golf Course land, RSI Function Hall, Cantonment Telephone Exchange office, 1 EME Centre, and Bison Division administrative offices.

The Army allows civilians who hold club membership to play golf on the 410 acre golf course and currently there are around 100 civilian club members. With the row over entry into this zone for civilians, questions are being asked about how they are allowed on the golf course. “Does the Army not feel threatened by civilian entry to the golf course?” asks Deepak Sandeep who lives in Yapral, a locality badly affected by the road closures.

The Army by building a wall at the Golf course area and blocking other arterial roads has caused inconvenience to around 15 lakh citizens over four years now.This correspondent carried out a mini tour around the TS- AP sub-area headquarters to understand the geographical locations of sensitive establishments if any.The LMA in sub-area headquarters has constructed two walls, one at the entrance leading to the RSI Function hall and another at the 100-feet Golf course road which once connected to the Karimnagar highway. The RSI Junction connects to K V Bolarum, Lakeline, flagstaff house, Bison house, Navy house, RSI and EME centre.If one is entering through the gatepost stationed after Valerian Grammar School heading towards the golf course, the defence establishment on the right includes Bison environmental park with a mini-physical training unit. Opposite this is the golf course. This northern pocket also houses Bison Dwar, sports plaza, and Parade training centre.

This blockade of roads has affected residents of Alwal and Yapral. The number of commuters using the roads exceeds the citizens resident adjacent to the golf course.The closure of roads has also reduced the strength of Valerian grammar school at Bolarum.