PNS|Hyderabad
There is a delay of 22 years in executing the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP).
Akbaruddin Owaisi raised concern over the silver jubilee of not operationalising the CPP. He said that when he became an MLA in United Andhra Pradesh, the project was launched and soon they might even celebrate the silver jubilee of the failure to complete the project.
Industries Minister KT Rama Rao promised to complete the project by the end of 2024. The project to beautify the footpath and to promote tourism around the historical Charminar was conceptualised in 2001, but the project is yet to see daylight.
“The project was conceptualised and initial plans were drawn up in 2001. It is a matter of great regret and personally, I also feel that I have let down the people of Hyderabad’s Old City,” he said. “We are making sincere efforts and 3 km of Inner Ring Road (IRR) has been completed. Four slip roads have also been taken up,” he added.
He said steps would be taken to deposit Rs 100 crore into the account of the Quli Qutb Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) from the HMDA.
He said the government was making sincere efforts to complete the project taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 353.3 crore and nine works involving Rs 98.7 crore are being executed. “I had promised in an earlier session that this project will be executed expeditiously but unfortunately the kind of progress I expected didn’t happen and I regret that,” KTR added.
He said when this project was started Akbaruddin was young but now he is not. “Likewise, I am also not young now. Your daughter has become a barrister and my son is going to college soon. I promise that I will not let you observe the silver jubilee of CPP’s non-execution.
If we have to celebrate a silver jubilee it will happen around Charminar ‘Jabardasth Jalsa’ which the whole of Hyderabad will witness,” he said.
KTR said that apart from the pedestrianisation project, the Sardar Mahal restoration, the facade improvement of the Laad Bazaar and the redevelopment of the Murgi Chowk are going on.
Rs 40 crore was sanctioned for the construction of the pedestrian bridge at Afzal Gunj on the Musi River for accommodating hawkers and tenders were invited four times. But no bidder came forward. “Tender for the fifth call is under progress. Otherwise, it will be executed by the department,” he said.
