Charminar parking woes trouble tourists, traders

HYDERABAD: Tourists coming to see Hyderabad’s pride, the 400-year-old heritage structures of Charminar, Macca Masjid and the famous shopping area of Lad Bazaar, face severe parking problems in the old city.

Starting from Afzalgunj to Charminar, there are no options left for tourists and locals to park their vehicles, except a private parking inside the Charminar Unani hospital.

In 2011, the government had planned for an integrated multi-level parking complex, which was proposed to be built by the GHMC at Khilwat near Charminar, with an estimated budget of Rs 35.04 crore.

A foundation stone had also been laid by former chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on June 5, 2011. But nothing has happened since then.

As part of the project, a five-story parking complex, designed for 400 four-wheelers and 200-two wheelers as well as several shops, was to come up at Khilwat.

The project, which was under public-private-partnership mode, was given to Futurage Infrastructure Pvt Lim-ited, which had assigned the IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company to execute.

But due to a high estimated cost of around Rs 72 crore given by the company, the project was shunted from department to department, ultimately leading to its cancellation.

Meanwhile, the thousands of tourists and locals are suffering. “We have come from Belgaum of Karnataka in our own vehicle to see the Charminar and Macca Masjid, but the only problem which we faced here was parking,” said Sadiq, a visitor.

Traders, vendors and roadside hawkers feel the same. “If there is parking facility for tourists and locals who come here for shopping, it would benefit us more,” said Mohammed, a local trader.