Hyderabad: The Moghalpura Sports Complex, which attracted several sports enthusiasts from Old City after its inauguration in 2017, has gradually lost all its shine with a few people visiting it for sports.
The pictures of K.T. Rama Rao, who was then municipal administration and urban development minister, and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, playing badminton and volleyball were circulated among locals to encourage them to play sports.
However, when the GHMC zonal office of South zone was shifted from the dilapidated Sardar Mahal to Chandrayangutta in 2019, one of the floors of the Moghalpura Sports Complex was handed over to GHMC Charminar circle.
The second floor of the sports complex has a badminton court, volleyball court and boxing, which are in bad shape.
As GHMC Charminar circle office operates from the sports complex, it was converted into the office of returning officer (RO) during the elections. Some temporary work stations were also made in the area marked for sports facilities in the complex.
During police bandobast at Charminar and its vicinity, police personnel coming from out of Hyderabad use the sports complex to park vehicles. Sometimes, the cops even take rest in between their shifts at the Moghalpura Sports Complex.
“People like me are discouraged as there is no equipment. Only a few people play shuttle in the badminton court. Several people think that the entire sports complex has been converted into a government office,” said a sports enthusiast.
“Especially during elections, there were a lot of restrictions due to security reasons discouraging sports enthusiasts from visiting the sports complex,” said a person, who used to play badminton.
