Falaknuma Palace and the Secretariat are just a few of the well-known heritage sites in the city that have been converted into hotels or administrative buildings while being maintained with utmost care. The lesser known gems of the city have been either left at the mercy of time or bombarded with new architectural alterations to suit modern day needs.
So, is the city’s historical heritage getting wiped out on account of callousness? Recently, the old Central Bus Station in Gowliguda, a part of Hyderabad’s transport heritage, collapsed. The 88-year-old structure, often known as the ‘Mississippi Hangar’ was in fact, imported from the Butler Manufacturing Company in the US and erected in 1930.
The Kurshid Jah Palace was once a government school
But the CBS is not the only piece of history that was being used for institutional purposes. In the bustling area of Charminar, amidst Laad Bazaar lies Sardar Mahal, more popularly known as the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation South Zone office. The 118-year-old palace was built by Nizam VI Mir Mahboob Ali Khan for one of his consorts, Sardar Begum. Similarly, the Errum Manzil Palace, constructed under Nawab Safdar Jung Musheer-ud-daula Fakhrul Mulk in 1870, is now currently the office of the Engineer-in-Chief. The Kurshid Jah Palace, that lies in a dilapidated state, was once a government school and now just overlooks a government college at its entrance. Occasionally, the ruins of the palace provide a locale for photo shoots and film shootings, only to be forgotten in time.
Historian Sajjad Shahid states that maintenance in accordance with the need of the building is of utmost importance. “Newer forms of maintenance are acceptable, depending on the uniqueness of the structure. If the structure is one of a kind, then one has to ensure that the original materials, style and architecture are maintained. Alterations and modern amenities are acceptable, but only to a certain degree, keeping the heritage of the building intact. People have gone beyond flouting regulations. After the cancellation of Regulation 13 of the HMDA rules regarding listed buildings, there is legally no provision left for the protection of these buildings,” says Sajjad Shahid.
And what about the safety of the people who use heritage structures as residences or for work? “People must realise that any architecture needs proper caretaking and maintenance. These heritage buildings are far more scientifically built in comparison to the modern architecture,” says Anuradha Reddy, Director of INTACH.
