Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Charminar project fails to take off

The Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP) to save the heritage edifice from pollution by decongesting the area around it is nowhere near completion even 12 years after the project was launched. Work on several components of the CPP such as beautification, conservation and restoration of Pathergatti, the four kamaans, Laad Bazaar, Night Bazaar and the creation of a buffer zone, among other components, have not even begun on a full scale.

It is the lack of coordination between various departments that is responsible for the slow progress of the project. The urgency for completing the project was highlighted on Sunday when pieces of the stucco floral decoration from the minaret of the Charminar peeled off.

The cost of the project, estimated at less than `140 crore at the start, is now expected to cross `300 crore as a result of the delays. More appalling is the fact that the officials are not sure when the project will be completed! Nearly 50 of the 250 properties slated for demolition in order to widen the inner ring road around the monument are yet to be demolished. Also nearly 60 more properties are yet to be acquired for widening the eight kilometre outer ring road. The ORR stretch is as follows: Mir Alam Mandi road from Azakhana Zehra to Daira Mir Momin, Hari Bowli road from Himmatpura junction to Khilwath to Motigalli, Chowk road to Shaad Cafe, City College to Naya Pul, Salar Jung Road to Aza Khana Zehra and up to Panch Mohalla.

The GHMC’s senior architect planner, Mr K. Srinivasa Rao, admitted the delay in the execution of the project, due mainly to the number of court cases the corporation had to fight over the properties to be acquired for road widening.

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