Metro Rail to overshadow historic MJ market
Mohammed Younus/Hyderabad :
Perhaps this could be the last view of the landmark Moazzam Jahi Market
as the view of the market’s front side would soon be blocked by the
Metro Rail pillars to people coming from Begumbazar.Popularly known as a
fruit market, Moazzam Jahi Market is not just a market but a landmark
of the City. As the work on the first phase of the Metro Rail is going
on at various points, it is also fading out the landmark views of
different monumental buildings in the city.The market was constructed
during the reign of the last Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan in 1935, and was
named after his second son Moazzam Jah Bahadur. Originally meant to be a
fruit market, it soon turned out to be a place where one could find
just about anything - fruits, vegetables, flowers, groceries, earthen
pots, arms and ammunitions, paan, ice-cream, dry fruits, hookahs and
ittar - and buy them at wholesale prices.
Indian
National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) convener Anuradha
Reddy expressed her sorrow at these developments despite efforts to
stop defacement of archaeological monuments. She said, “In fact we have
opposed every step of the government disfiguring such landmarks in the
city, but our representations went in vain.”The consecutive governments
right from the 70s have ruined many historic and landmark buildings and
only tried to cash in on the real estate values of the city, she added.
She said that another route could have been arranged for Metro Rail by
avoiding the heritage corridor area of Hyderabad.Historian Abdul Qayyum
said, “We are opposing the Metro pillars in front of any landmark
building of the city. Not only Moazzam Jahi Market but the majestic view
of the Assembly would also be lost forever due to these pillars.”He
said that the government is unfortunately trying to erase the history of
Hyderabad, which is popular across the world because of its rich
heritage coupled with architectural splendour.
On the other hand, Metro Rail officials said that they were not disturbing any historic and archaeological structures. A representative of Hyderabad Metro Rail K Murli Mohan said that pillars were erected 60 to 100 ft away from any such structures coming in the way of Metro line. Moazzam Jahi market was considered the centre of city during the period of the Nizams and continues to be a nodal point for many processions like Bonalu and Ganesh festival. It is not only the fruit market, but a market that has been catering to many needs of a cross-section of the society.A fruit merchant on the market premises Abdul Kareem said, “The spot was chosen because it was in the heart of the city. It was built with the idea that people from every corner of the city could visit this market easily. More importantly, fruits of all kinds would be taken from this market for the royal families.”
Indian
National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (Intach) convener Anuradha
Reddy expressed her sorrow at these developments despite efforts to
stop defacement of archaeological monuments. She said, “In fact we have
opposed every step of the government disfiguring such landmarks in the
city, but our representations went in vain.”The consecutive governments
right from the 70s have ruined many historic and landmark buildings and
only tried to cash in on the real estate values of the city, she added.
She said that another route could have been arranged for Metro Rail by
avoiding the heritage corridor area of Hyderabad.Historian Abdul Qayyum
said, “We are opposing the Metro pillars in front of any landmark
building of the city. Not only Moazzam Jahi Market but the majestic view
of the Assembly would also be lost forever due to these pillars.”He
said that the government is unfortunately trying to erase the history of
Hyderabad, which is popular across the world because of its rich
heritage coupled with architectural splendour.On the other hand, Metro Rail officials said that they were not disturbing any historic and archaeological structures. A representative of Hyderabad Metro Rail K Murli Mohan said that pillars were erected 60 to 100 ft away from any such structures coming in the way of Metro line. Moazzam Jahi market was considered the centre of city during the period of the Nizams and continues to be a nodal point for many processions like Bonalu and Ganesh festival. It is not only the fruit market, but a market that has been catering to many needs of a cross-section of the society.A fruit merchant on the market premises Abdul Kareem said, “The spot was chosen because it was in the heart of the city. It was built with the idea that people from every corner of the city could visit this market easily. More importantly, fruits of all kinds would be taken from this market for the royal families.”
