Hyderabad: The Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad has decided to redraw the buffer zone plan around Charminar. This follows the opposition by the Majlis which feels the buffer zone would affect the traders near the monument. The MCH will hold a meeting with the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project consultant on May 20 to look into the matter, said MCH Commissioner Sanjay Jaju.

He gave this assurance at the District Development Review Committee meeting here on Saturday. Majlis MP Asaduddin Owaisi said his party was for beautification of Charminar but it should not be at the cost of the traders there. The creation of the 30-metre buffer zone around the monument would affect nearly 30 shops.

The Majlis leader also saw in it "a conspiracy" to close the entry point to the Mecca Masjid. He said the buffer zone should be up to 15 metres and traffic should be allowed from both sides. Mr. Asaduddin also objected to the closure of the main gate of the Nizamia Unani Hospital and opening of the rear gate on the Moghalpura side.

Road-widening

Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy and V. Hanumantha Rao (MPs) supported the Majlis contentionReferring to the road-widening, Mr. Jaju said work was being delayed in the Himayathnagar, Musheerabad and Karwan constituencies. Road-widening was largely consent-based.

Chandrayangutta MLA, Akbaruddin Owaisi, said metro rail would not be the answer to the growing traffic in the City. The Delhi metro rail project was a failure. After spending Rs. 11,000 crores, the Delhi metro was able to attract only 3 per cent of commuters. It would require 60 years to recover the investment. He wanted the government to spend Rs. 1,000 crores for creating better road network in Hyderabad.

Mr. Akbaruddin objected to MCH building of public toilets on footpaths and asked whether it did not amount to encroachment. He also opposed the Greater Hyderabad project. When the Delhi Municipal Corporation had created three zones why should Hyderabad think of expanding, he asked. Former Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy also opposed the Greater Hyderabad move.

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