Shaikpet-Gandipet Aqueduct: Tribute to M. Visvesvaraya’s Engineering Legacy
13 April 2026 8:52 PM IST13 April 2026 8:52 PM IST
Built during the Nizam era, the aqueduct stretching from Shaikpet to Gandipet passed throughs, Narsingi, Manikonda, Kokapet and Puppalguda,it remains an enduring symbol of Hyderabad’s engineering heritage
Shaipet-Gandipet Aqueduct | Image DC Library
Hyderabad: As the nation remembers Bharat Ratna Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya on his death anniversary on April 14, Hyderabad pays tribute to the legendary engineer whose visionary planning transformed the city’s flood management system and laid the foundation for one of its most remarkable engineering structures - the Shaikpet-Gandipet elevated aqueduct.
Built during the Nizam era, the aqueduct stretching from Shaikpet to Gandipet passed through Mehdipatnam, Manikonda, Narsingi, Kokapet and Puppalguda and remains an enduring symbol of Hyderabad’s engineering heritage. Designed by Sir M. Visvesvaraya, the structure played a crucial role in transporting water from Osman Sagar to the city.
The origins of the aqueduct trace back to the tragic Musi floods of 1908, which caused massive destruction across Hyderabad. Alarmed by the tragedy, the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahboob Ali Khan, appointed Sri Visvesvaraya as a consultant and irrigation expert to devise a permanent flood-control solution.
Following extensive surveys, Visvesvaraya proposed an ambitious flood management plan that included the construction of storage reservoirs above the city - the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs along with improved drainage systems, flood embankments, and the development of parks in vulnerable areas. His recommendations, submitted in a 1909 report, would reshape Hyderabad’s urban planning forever.
Completed by 1927 under the reign of the seventh Nizam, Mir Osman Ali Khan, the reservoirs drastically reduced flooding while becoming the major source of drinking water for the city.
Interestingly, Deccan historians note that before functioning as a water aqueduct, the elevated structure initially served as a light railway line used to transport construction materials and workers during the building of Osman Sagar. After construction ended, the railway tracks were dismantled and replaced with water pipelines.
Sir Mokshagundam Visvesvaraya Statue at Khairatabad, Hyderabad
Today, maintained by the HMWS & SB and GHMC, the aqueduct, remains a historic landmark reflecting the brilliance of Sir Visvesvaraya, whose legacy continues to inspire generations. The GHMC has now erected fencing alongside the aqueduct, especially in the Puppalaguda side to prevent people from encroaching.
( Source : Deccan Chronicle )
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