Hyderabad: Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister KT Rama Rao said the State government would intensify its efforts in securing the UNESCO’s Heritage City status for Hyderabad. The city has both an old world charm and a new age vibrancy, he said after inaugurating the restored and refurbished Moazamjahi Market here on Friday.
The Mozamjahi Market, popular as the MJ Market, was originally constructed in 1933. “When we visited here two years back, it was in bad shape. I am glad that the MAUD department did a good job in restoration and conservation of the historic structure,” Rao said, adding that not many were aware that Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao had lived near Hotel Mayura adjacent to the historic structure, he said. “During my childhood days, we too used to visit the Famous Ice creams store here regularly,” he said.
Stating that Hyderabad was a cosmopolitan with Punjabi, Gujarati, Marathi and other communities making the city their home, the Minister said it was everyone’s duty and responsibility to save and strengthen the brotherhood, peace and harmony in the city. There are many heritage structures like the Golconda Fort, Murghi Chowk, stepwells in the city and across Telangana. The State government will do its best in restoration and conservation of such structures, he said, appealing to the citizens to extend their cooperation in maintenance of the structures.
The State government was also constructing the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Yadadri at a cost of nearly Rs 1,000 crore and it was ‘coming up beautifully’, the Minister said.
Coinciding with the inauguration of the restored MJ Market, the MAUD department is organising a photo exhibition of the historic events and developments connected with the monument.
The exhibition will have pictures and videos of the restoration works executed during the last two years, MAUD Principal Secretary Arvind Kumar said.
There are about 100 pictures on display at the exhibition including one interesting picture of the ground-breaking ceremony of the historic monument wayback in 1933. There is also an image of the structure when it was lit up with decorative lights in 1937. The exhibition will be open to the public for a week from 10 am to 6 pm.