Hydrabad: After restricting movement of vehicles the vibrations to the Charminar have eased, explained the Archaeological Survey of India.
But the problems of hawkers persist and since they have moved the High Court, the Charminar Pedestrian Project is once again in cold storage.
The walkway for the pedestrians has seen a good number of people walk to the Charminar early in the morning and also late at night.
There is renewed interest in the heritage structure and also at the effort that is being made to protect it.
However, the complete pedestrian project which has set goals of beautification and also encircling a highly commercial zone has met with stiff resistance.
A senior archaeological department official explained, “The issue of livelihood of the hawkers is important. But to protect the heritage monument, it is important that the government takes steps to regulate them.”
The process of shifting hawkers from Charminar to the Charkamam had the jewellers association in the area staging a major protest.
The proposal of shifting them by building bridges near Salar Jung have also not found any takers.
Superintending Archaeologist at the Archaeological Survey of India, Dr Milan Kumar Chauley, said, “The first phase of the project has allowed pedestrians to freely move around the heritage precinct which could not be done earlier. There is now space for the people to roam around freely without the fear of being hit by a vehicle. We now have to work towards clearing the entry point further by regulating the businesses so that there is better accessibility.”
The Charminar Pedestrian Project aims to pedestrianise a radius of 220 meters around the Charminar.
The work of laying the footpath and removing the hawkers from the first 100 meters has been carried out. There is trouble brewing for the remaining portion as the question of livelihood has now been raised.
