Hyderabad: Procession likely to damage new Charminar granite pavements

The Ganesh idol procession from the Old City would damage the work carried out for the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP), officials said.

Officials said the granite pavements from Charminar to Gulzar Houz and to Sardar Mahal, which were designed for pedestrians, would be damaged if heavy vehicles carrying idols from Shalibanda and Charminar are allowed to move on them.

The pavements on Laad Bazaar Road and Sardar Mahal would be removed during the nimajjanam procession on immersion day.

A senior GHMC official said the corporation had completed the pavement works using granite and cobble stones at an estimated cost of Rs 6 crore. Even though traffic can diverted via the ourter and inner ring roads via the High Court, the traffic police was not ready to do so and has decided to route the procession through Shalibanda and Charminar. This would damage the infrastructure of the CPP.

The official said the corporation would have to spend Rs 8 crore additionally every year to restore the pavements, permanent bollards and other structures following the Ganesh procession.

The official said that the 800-metre radius around the Charminar had been designed for pedestrians and decided not allow heavy vehicles there.

“The granite pavements do not have the structural stability to allow heavy vehicles, and would be damaged. It would also create further inconvenience during the procession on immersion day,” he said.

Of the Rs 11.05 crore works pertaining to Inner and Outer Ring Road covering Charminar, 95 per cent had been completed. This route could be used to divert traffic from the High Court without damaging the project, he said.