The 67th Independence Day was celebrated on Thursday with nationalistic fervour, zeal and enthusiasm across the state.

Speaking after unfurling the national flag at GHMC head office here, Mayor M Majid Hussain said that to provide better civic amenities for the people the GHMC has taken up widening of 22 major roads with an estimated cost of Rs 201.71 crore and planning to lay three new major roads at a cost of `66.92 crore. GHMC is constructing road over bridges (RoBs) at Kandikal Gate, Uppuguda and Tukaram Gate with an estimated cost of `37.93 crore, RUBs at Rail Nilayam (Alugadda Bavi), Safilguda, Uttam Nagar and flyovers were proposed at Tolichowki, Balanagar and Amberpet crossroads, he said.

GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu admitted that the corporation could not take up road repair works due to inclement weather in the last one month.

Later, they distributed bank linkage to self help groups, Aasara Identity Cards, Vikasam Identity Cards, artificial limbs, tricycles and wheelchairs to physically challenged persons. SVP National Police Academy director Subhas Goswami unfurled the national flag and advised the trainee IPS officers to have a paradigm shift from authority-based policing to right-based policing. He wanted them to be more humane in khakhi.

Independence Day was celebrated at Metro rail Bhavan here. HMR managing director NVS Reddy said that Metro Rail works were going on at a brisk pace in the city and added that road repair works  would be carried out on a warfooting basis to lessen problems of commuters during the monsoon.

Hyderabad district collector Mukhesh Kumar Meena distributed the books to school students after hoisting the national flag.

He also presented meritorious awards to the employees of various departments on the occasion.

APSRTC chairman M Satyanarayana Rao along with managing director AK Khan hoisted the national flag and received guard of honour.  Speaking on the occasion, Rao asked the  staff to work hard for betterment of the Corporation.

The South Central Railway Mazdoor Union (SCRMU) also celebrated Independence Day and SCRMUV general secretary Ch Sankara Rao unfurled the Tricolour. He cautioned of the imminent threat of privatisation and outsourcing.