HYDERABAD: Who developed Hyderabad? This is the frequently asked question and the biggest talking point for political parties caught on the cusp of the high-stakes GHMC elections set for February 2. Curiously, the stress is more on the past and less on the future. Both in public speeches and offline and online campaigns, top stake-holders TD and Congress claim credit for the aura that surrounds the capital while new entrant TRS plays down their role. TD boss N. Chandrababu Naidu boasts not only of launching the Hitec City, a jewel in the capital’s crown, but also seeks to project himself as the architect of modern Hyderabad.
The TRS, in power for less than two years, is trying to blunt the edge of the Naidu offensive by giving much of the credit to the Nizam and also cites the projects it has set in motion. Congress is prominently highlighting prominent infrastructure contributions like the Outer Ring Road and the Krishna and Godavari projects. Heritage enthusiasts, are one up on the TRS, giving credit to the thinking and planning of the Quli Qutb Shahi rulers and to the planning of Mir Momin Astarabadi.
Astarabadi came to India from Iran and then moved to Golconda where he became part of the Quli Qutub Shahi kingdom. Said heritage expert Mohammed Safiullah: “The Qutb Shahis made huge contributions in the making of Hyderabad. The region was urbanised in the form of small villages. He contributed immensely to providing the city with water, a basic requirement, and boosting agriculture. He gave the city man-made water tanks. Qutb Shahi and Mir Momin grew out of Golconda in search of more space and infrastructure, and that’s how Hyderabad was born.”
The first contribution of Qutb Shahi was the Puranapul Bridge. Then came Goshamahal Baradari, Darul Shifa and Mecca Masjid. The Qutb Shahis recognised the need to have a counter-magnet to Golconda, because it had outgrown its purpose. While Asaf Jahis’ contribution was largely in irrigation and agriculture, many structures were built during this period too. It was during the period of the sixth Nizam Mahbub Ali Khan and Osman Ali Khan, the seventh Nizam, that several modern projects were executed -- the roadways, aviation, institutions, hospitals, railway stations and much more.
The Hyderabad State Aero Club, the airport, the concrete runways at airports in Hyderabad state in the pre-1948 days at Hakimpet, Bidar, Warangal, Begumpet, Adilabad, the rain water harvesting system, the High Court, City central Library, hospitals, the Arts College at Osmania University, the library and hostels on the campus, Nizam College, Public Hardens, Jubilee Hall, State Museum of Archaeology, the Nampally, Kacheguda and the Secunderabad railway network, all of them came into being during their rule. It was exactly 100 years ago that the foundation stone was laid for Osmansagar and Himayatsagar. Hyderabad even had a radio station of its own.
Says heritage enthusiast, Anuradha Reddy: “Political parties stepped in after Hyderabad went through the basic development process. They have executed several projects during successive democratically elected governments.” TD deputy floor leader and legislator A. Revanth Reddy said the Nizam rule contributed only in structural development of the city. However, when the TD took over, it came up with new projects that generated revenue from the city in many ways.
“Hyderabad alone generates Rs 60,000 crore of revenue a year, right from the Hitech City brand to the international airport to Outer Ring Road. All these were conceived during the TD rule, he stressed. The ORR was planned in 2001. The TD worked on a 350-feet wide road, after which the Congress took over and expanded it into a 500-feet wide road. For the international airport, 5,005 acres were enlisted for the project for which approval came from the NDA government.
The TD established the Indian School of Business, Nalsar University. It was during Mr Naidu’s rule that American heavyweights, Microsoft chief Bill Gates and then US President Bill Clinton, visited Hyderabad. Microsoft, Infosys and more than 100 companies came to Hyderabad during the TD rule. The TD ruled the state for 17 years and Mr Naidu held the reins as the CM for nine years. The TD government approved construction of 18 flyovers and widened roads. Hyderabad was certified as a clean and green city during the time when the TD’s T. Krishna Reddy held the Mayor’s post, Mr Revanth Reddy said.
TPCC president N. Uttam Kumar Reddy credited the Congress with the arrival of research institutions like CCMB, IICT, DRDO , DMRL , ICRISAT, as also a large number of public sector undertakings like BHEL, ECIL, IDPL, HMT, HAL and NFC. They came in with substantial employment potential and they provided scope for ancillary and other industries. Former minister and senior Congress leader Marri Shashidhar Reddy added, “The foundation stone for the Krishna water supply was laid in 1999, the scheme was initiated during Congress rule. The Congress boosted the industrial sector for 50 years, and 10,000 acres was acquired for industry. The Metro was our brainchild.”
Congress and TD claim TD progressed under them.
List of structures built during Mir Osman Ali Khan, Nizam VII:
- Public Gardens, Nampally
- High Court
- Osmania General Hospital
- Jubilee Hall
- State Assembly was completed during this period
- Osmania University
- Kacheguda Railway Station
- Mahbubia High School
- City Central Library
- Nampally Railway Station
- Nizam State Railways (1930)
- Begumpet Airport
- Hakimpet Airport
- Secunderabad station was built during Mahbub Ali Khan, however it was modernised in this period
- Suburban railway stations
- Moazzam Jahi Market
- City College
Mir Mahboob Ali Khan Siddiqi, Nizam vi of Hyderabad (1869-1911):
- Alia School, Nizam College, original parts of Public Garden and number of Clock Towers
- Asafia Libray
- Palaces: King Koti, few palaces in Chowmahalla Palace, Mahboob Mansion, Malakpet.
- Nampally and Secunderabad station was built during this period.
- Chairs and tables system was introduced, earlier the cot seating was done.
- Introduction of electricity in Hyderabad was done in October 1910-(one year before the Nizam died)
Qutub Shahi dynasty (1518- 1687):
- Hussainsagar, Durgam Cheruvu, Dargah Cheruvu and lakes in Masab Tank, Ibrahimpatnam, Saroornagar
- Charminar
- Purana Pul
- Demolished Taj Mahal (7 storey building )
- Goshamal Baradari
- Char Kaman,
- Taramati Baradari
- Golconda Fort
- Naya Qila
- Qutub Shahi tombs
- Daire Mir Momin
- Badshahi Ashoorkhana
- Unani Hospital
- Macca Masjid
- Aliabad Sarai
Works planned and approved by TRS:
- Approval of 18 flyovers
- Kakatiya Mission
- Over 300 two-bedroom flats for the poor
- Six elevated reservoirs to store water
- Wi-Fi connectivity at Hitec City and Hussainsagar
- T-Hub for start-ups
- Vehicles for law and order and traffic.
- Approved signal-free junctions
- Approved skywalks and mutli-grade seperators
- Two-bin policy and auto tippers for garbage
- collection
- Approved police command and control building and commissionerate
- Expansion of CM camp office
- Exemption of property tax for lower strata
- Swachh Hyderabad
