HYDERABAD: Even as the Sultan Bazar Traders Association (SBTA), Sultan Bazar Building Owners Association (SBBOA) and Sultan Bazar Hawkers’ Association (SBHA) is continuing to protest against the state government’s move to go ahead with the original metro rail alignment at Sultan Bazar, another group of traders, tenants and hawkers under the banner of Traders Joint Action Committee, Sultan Bazaar, have arrived at an agreement on a special package for them.
At a meeting held at Metro Rail Bhavan on Friday between HMR officials led by its managing director NVS Reddy and TJAC, Sultan Bazaar, Govind Rathi, V.Kishan Yadav along with former minister, P Ramaswamy arrived at an agreement on a special package for Sultan Bazaar traders, owners and hawkers.
Reddy informed the members that chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao directed HMR officials to arrive at a mutually agreeable special package to Badi Chowdi-Sultan Bazaar-Koti area, given its special place in history and culture of Hyderabad. Also the old charm of Sultan Bazaar would be revived by HMR to regain its past glory.
‘’In view of the narrow roads and pedestrian nature of Sultan Bazaar stretch of corridor-II, road widening will be minimal as a special case. Widening will be restricted to 80 feet between Kachiguda crossroads and Bata Junction (Badi Chowdi stretch); 65 feet between Bata Jn and Andhra Bank Jn (Sultan Bazaar stretch); and 80 feet from Andhra Bank to Putlibowli Jn (Koti stretch). No religious or other sensitive structures would be touched by the widening,’’ Reddy said.
Reddy informed the members that Sultan Bazaar stretch of about 250 mts will be developed as a hawkers’ paradise with facilities being designed below the Metro viaduct with following features: Platforms with storage facility, carriageway next to hawker facility will be paved with cobblestone for shoppers to purchase goods. Pedestrian and hawker facility will be developed in Sultan Bazaar to International standard by HMR at an estimated cost of `2 crore. In future these facilities will be converted into a Night Bazaar as well.
R&R complex at Putlibowli
The complex constructed at Putlibowli reflects the streetscape of Sultan Bazaar vertically with 80 shops on one side and 100 hawkers’ places on other side of ramp. The ramp takes the shoppers from two cellar parking floors to any of the five floors above in an effortless manner as if one was walking through streets of Sultan Bazaar.
Compensation for affected tenants: Reddy stated that tenants whose livelihood is affected will be suitably compensated. An assurance letter confirming the above package was handed over by MD to the Traders’ JAC.
Satisfied with proposed hawkers facilities and special compensation package, owners, tenants and hawkers of Badi Chowdi, Sultan Bazaar and Putlibowli thanked chief minister and assured their cooperation for smooth execution of Metro Rail project in this area.
Traders’ JAC general secretary Manohar Suryavamshi along with joint secretary Shiv Kumar Katchwa and some owners, tenants and hawkers attended the meeting.
Mainstream associations OPPOSE pact
SBTA Convener D Shankar told Express that the state government should protect the heritage of Sultan Bazar at all cost. SBTA have nothing to with the agreement on a special package reached between HMR and Traders’ JAC. He described Sultan Bazar as the pride of Hyderabad and mini-India where people of all religions do business and make purchases. Any plan to disturb its heritage would not be tolerated, he warned. “The metro rail project will erase Sultan Bazar’s history as it will lead to demolition of around 80 buildings and loss of livelihood to a few thousand people. It will lead to demolition of as many as 400 shops, displacement of 500 footpath hawkers and affect the livelihood of one lakh people,” said traders. Shankar recalled that chief minister Chandrasekhar Rao had assured them during the height of Telangana struggle that he will protect the Sultan Bazar market under any circumstances. He also announced on the floor of the Assembly that the government would realign three stretches near State Assembly, Sultan Bazar and Old City to protect the heritage precinct. SBBOA secretary Panduranga said that TJAC has nothing to do with with Sultan Bazar and do not any shops or properties. ‘’How can the HMR hold meeting and announce special package without consulting main affected sections like SBTA, SBBOA or SBHA etc’’. ‘’We will fight with the government to change the original alignment and to go alternate route’’ he added. SBHA president Satish Jaiswal said that Traders JAC is confusing the traders and hawkers of Sultan Bazar. Question of availing special package does not arise and will fight against the metro rail passing through the congested areas of Sultan Bazar. ‘’We will protect the heritage of market of Sultan Bazar built by Nizams at all costs,’’ he added.
