Metro to crush Sultan Bazar
Hyderabad, January 21: The bustling and historical Sultan Bazar in Koti could soon be consigned to sepia-tinted photographs of the past. Thanks to the much-hyped Hyderabad Metro Rail, which will shuttle through Sultan Bazar, the historical shops would be razed, making shop owners lose their livelihood and shelter.
The 200-year-old market has about 116 shops, with many shops more than 100 years old. As the metro route will pass through major commercial centres like Kachiguda, Badichowdi, Sultan Bazar and Puthlibowli, 1,500 shops will be affected, for road-widening from 30 feet to 100 feet. Hundreds of small-time vendors will also lose their livelihood. Notices have already been served to several shopkeepers at Badichowdi that their shops will be razed.
'Most shop owners have been doing business in Sultan Bazar for several generations. Sultan Bazar is one of the few tourist markets in India where a customer gets to choose from a tiny pin to gold articles. It is also considered as the market for middle-class people,' joint secretary, Sultan Bazar Traders Association (SBTA), Shashi Bushan said. Shopkeepers are aggrieved that HMR officials zeroed down on the route without taking into consideration their concerns. 'Till today HMR officials did not ever care to hold a meeting with us. After seeing news reports that our shops will be affected, we approached HMR managing director NVS Reddy to express our resentment,' SBTA treasurer Bhavesh C Gala said.
Shop owners have proposed three alternative routes, so that the ancient market can be protected. The first option is to divert the train at Chikkadpally, so the rail can pass through Baghlingampally, Chappal Bazar, Chaderghat to Imblibun bus station. The second option is to divert it from the erstwhile Maheshwari theatre to Manjira hotel to pass through Chappal Bazar, Chaderghat and Imlibun. But the best option according to them is instead of entering into Sultan Bazar, the rail can instead go straight until Maternity Hospital.
It can then take a marginal turn and use a portion of the land belonging to Koti Women's College and Osmania Medical College before reaching MGBS. 'If this alternative route is chosen, most private properties will be saved. The market would remain intact without affecting the metro project,' said SBTA president Surendra Luniya. He added, 'Out of all existing shops, 95 per cent are occupied by tenants. Shop owners at least will have some hope of government compensation. But where should these businessmen go?'Another major threat is that more than 1,000 families will lose their shelter. One can find that in every building, there are shops on the ground floor and on top are residences. Owners have been residing in the upper floors either renting the shops or doing business themselves.
News Posted: 22 January, 2011
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