Charminar restoration: Repairs on 4 minars to end by 2018

Hyderabad: The famed 426-year old Charminar’s conservation work is making good progress. Of the four minars, two minars (northwest and northeast) will be completed this year, while the remaining two will be finished in 2018. 

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) had taken up the conservation of the four towering minars of the ancient monument in the heart of the  Old City of Hyderabad last year after cracks, patches and cavities developed in the four minars of this architectural adornment to the city. The 

Charminar has been showing these signs of wear and tear due to the ageing process and nature. 

Though this insidious damage is not visible to those standing on the road, or looking at it from a distance, conservationists warn if repairs were not carried out immediately, it could cause harm to the structure in the future. 

“We have conducted a series of tests, including Lidar scanning, on the structural stability of the towers and found that the inner core of the Charminar is in good condition, since it was built with granite,” Dr V Gopal Rao, Conservation Assistant, ASI, who is posted at Charminar, told Deccan Chronicle. 

He added, “Externally, cracks have developed at various places. Also, air pollution due to emission of carbon dioxide from vehicles is causing external damage and blackening the structure. There was also damage to stucco works, floral motifs and other designs which have been repaired by experts.” 

He explained, “We used lime, plaster, sand, jaggery, gallnut, eggs, and marble powder  to repair the damage”. 

The conservation work is being done under the supervision of N. Taher, Superintending Archaeologist, ASI. 

The Charminar was built by Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah, the fifth ruler of the Qutb Shahi dynasty, who was also the founder of Hyderabad city in Hijri 1000 (AD 1591-1592). 

 The Charminar is a square structure measuring 31.95 metres on each side with imposing arches spanning a distance of 11 metres. Four minarets rise to a height of 56 metres. The spiral staircase inside the minarets has 149 steps leading to the top with 12 landings. 

This imposing building is known for its stucco decorations and impressive arrangement of balustrades and balconies. The floral designs are varied and delicately executed, a synthesis of Mughal and Hindu architecture, according to ASI.

Currently, ASI is facing a huge problem with selfie-obsessed youngsters trying to take snaps standing on balconies. To prevent accidents, it has put up barricades at vantage points and posted guards to warn youth against trying to pose dangerously for selfies. “At present we have restricted entry up to the first floor since repairs are on”, he added.

Land acquisition hits Pedestrianisation project 
Acquisition of land has become a major hurdle for the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation in the implementation of the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project. For the project to succeed, widening of the two ring roads around the Charminar is vital. 

The project-specific outer ring road is 5.4 km while the inner ring road is 2.3 km. For this, the GHMC has identified 30 private properties for acquisition, but the owners are adamant that the compensation offered for their property is meagre. 

They are demanding a much higher compensation from the government. Officials say that the property owners are demanding Rs 2 crore to Rs 3 crore. They said if the owners won’t come forward to give their properties of their own free will, the government will have to invoke the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act.

The state government has sanctioned Rs 35 crore for the project, which, when implemented, will see the precincts, in a radius of 220 metres, of the historic monument becoming free of vehicular traffic. 

Widening of the outer ring road to 90 feet so that larger vehicles like buses ply comfortably is part of the proposal. The width of the inner ring will be limited to 40 feet to cater to the needs of smaller vehicles like two-wheelers, tricycles and auto-rickshaws.  

In addition to widening of the outer and inner ring roads, paving the roads with granite has been taken up on all the four roads leading to the Charminar. These paved pathways will connect the inner ring road boundaries.

To acquire private properties, the officials have completed the social impact assessment and conducted gram sabhas with the residents as per the requirement of the Land Acquisition Act.  

Meanwhile, GHMC town planning director K. Srinivasa Rao said that they have completed all the formalities required to acquire the private properties. 

Speaking to DC, Mr Rao said consultations are going on with the property owners. He expressed confidence that the hurdles in acquisition of the properties will be cleared soon.