GHMC to renovate Clock Tower, build new market

GHMC appears to have finally woken from its slumber and decided to revamp the Etebar Chowk, popularly known as the Mahbub Chowk.The corporation has sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the renovation of the quadrangular park and the municipal market.

The imposing five-storey clock tower in the middle of the quadrangular park is part of the chowk that was built in 1892 by Sir Asman Jah, the then Prime Minister of Hyderabad, and is a Grade–III protected Heritage Building.

Today, the chowk is more famous for the municipal market on the southern side, locally called Murgi Chowk, while the park is hidden away by small shops.

The chowk also consists of private properties and has two heritage structures, the old homeopathic hospital building that was converted into a function hall and the Masjid-e-Chowk, one of the largest mosques in the city.

Some of the shops in the municipal market are so dilapidated that their roofs have partially collapsed. However, the entrance arches remain intact; the intricate artwork a testament to a long-lost beauty.

The total area consists of 4,666 sq. metre, consisting of 262 shops. “The GHMC’s heritage wing, after inspection of Mahbub Chowk, has decided to construct a remodelled market with an underground cellar with the same architectural style by properly documenting the existing structure. The first floor will accommodate the existing tenants and also the encroachers who have been doing business around the clock tower. The idea is to recreate the ambience. The project would cost an estimated Rs 5 crore, of which Rs 1.5 crore will be spent on renovation of the Clock Tower,” said a GHMC officer.