Hyderabad: Fresh trouble at Charminar for tourists & businessmen

Charminar: The underground cabling works which began a few meters from the iconic heritage structure on the Laad Bazar lane have emerged a new cause of concern to the tourists, including foreigners. Businessmen who already incurred huge losses during the earlier works under Charminar Pedestrianisation Project (CPP) are now apprehensive about the impact of latest works on this stretch.

According to businessmen, as part of the works of underground cabling, a section of road was dug up 20 days back and no caution or sign board was placed near the site. "Visitors are facing inconvenience while walking on this road. Several foreign visitors also visit the Bazar for shopping and could land in the pit dug up for cabling, as they are not used to it. Almost half of the road has been dug up and no caution board is seen around," said Syed Akbar, owner of readymade garment shop.

"The road was dug up 20 days back for electrical works, which are going on during late night hours. But during the day time, they should be caution board to alert people. When we contacted the officials of electricity department, there was no response," he added.

It is also observed that some visitor slips on the road every day. They demand that the works be completed at the earliest, as it was causing not only inconvenience to tourists, but also discourage them from entering the lane.

"Due to the works many shops are running without customers, as there is no place to walk or to enter the shops. Every alternate week the road is being dug up for works. Earlier it was for laying cobblestones, later for installing bollards and now the stretch is dug up for laying cables. The market is totally disturbed with this kind of activity", fumed Mohammed Muqhtar, owner of a women's garment shop.

One of the Corporators who spoke to The Hans India assured that the works would be completed in a week. He had asked the concerned officials to complete the works as early as possible.