‘Religious’ bottlenecks for Charminar beautification

Hyderabad: Six religious structures and three transformers have become bottlenecks for the ongoing Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP).

While the APCPDCL has agreed to shift the transformers, the GHMC does not know how to go about the religious structures fearing trouble in the old city.

However, the authorities have started negotiating with the concerned departments about these religious structures.

The major works of CPP include pedestrianisation of the Charminar area, conservation of historic structures in the precinct and upgradation of infrastructure. It is believed that the main reason for degeneration of the area is the misuse of the available space

S. Devender Reddy, chief city planner of GHMC said that the CPP project extended to 10-12 km of the Outer Ring road and 4 km of the IRR.

The Inner Ring Road includes Gulzar Houz to Ghansi Bazaar leading to Mehbub Chowk.  To the left of Gulzar House, towards Sardar Patel Road to the government Unani Hospital, no vehicles will be allowed on the IRR. Seven new parking lots have been identified under the project.  One among these is Chowk
Mandi, identified by the traffic department.

However, apart from the encroachers, the religious structures come in the way of the project.

The Hyderabad mayor, during an inspection had said that many people who were affected have already taken money, but had again started reconstructing buildings, which was highly objectionable.