Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) Minister KT Rama Rao inaugurated the 690-meter long Bahadurpura flyover built at a cost of Rs 79 crores on Tuesday alongside other major developmental projects in the Old City. The government has taken up the revamping of heritage structures like Sardar Mahal, Mir Alam Mandi, and Murgi Chowk in the Old City, the minister said.
The Foundation stone of a comprehensive project, at a cost of Rs 280 crores to improve the sewer network in the Karwan constituency, was also laid. Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi also accompanied the minister in the Old City and he has made some interesting comments on the Osmania hospital building reopening the debate about the need to demolish the structure.
"I have no love for the old Osmania Hospital building, and if a conservationist is hurt by this, then he should feel hurt. The poor go to Osmania for treatment and there is a pressing need for a new building," Owaisi said. There has been a mixed response to Owaisi's comments on social media. The state government has announced demolishing the building and constructing a new state-of-the-art hospital in its place.
Several PILs have been filed against the demolition and the High Court had issued a stay on it. In the last month, the state government set up a 4-member committee including R&B engineer-in-chief, public health, and Panchayat Raj engineers as well as chief city planners of GHMC to make the decision about it. Those in favor of preserving the Heritage building are suggesting that a new building could be constructed on the plot of 26 acres adjoining the Heritage building. Owaisi's comments at such a crucial juncture turn interesting.