The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Puranapul to regain its glory

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Monday, Jan 05, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Puranapul to regain its glory

Special Correspondent

‘Darwaza’ of the ancient bridge, jammed due to disuse, to be made functional

Puranapul presents an ugly sight with garbage around
Restoration project estimated to cost Rs. 1 crore

— Photo: Nagara Gopal

Heritage conservation: J. Kedareshwari, Additional Commissioner, GHMC (Heritage), and other officials inspecting the Puranapul Darwaza.

Hyderabad: It has gone to seed again. Six years after it was fully restored, Puranapul is back to square one. Encroachments, slush and the derelict look greet visitors everywhere. The ancient bridge as also its giant ‘darwaza’ – both heritage monuments — bear the stamp of neglect today.

If the civic authorities are to be believed, Puranapul and its door will regain their pristine form in three months flat. The heritage wing of the GHMC has planned to repair and refurbish the memorials as part of the Musi revitalisation project. The bridge will be cleaned stone by stone of grime and rank vegetation, all encroachments on it removed and the gate made functional.

Tall order

That’s a tall order. But J. Kedareshwari, Additional Commissioner, (Heritage) GHMC, is confident she can do it. The project estimated to cost Rs. 1 crore is entrusted to conservation architect Aba Narayan Lambah of Mumbai.

“The work will be taken up on war footing basis and completed by March,” Dr. Kedareshwari exuded confidence after inspecting Puranapul along with a team of engineers. The bridge was repaired on the eve of World Tourism Day on September 27, 2002 and christened ‘Pyaranapul’ (bridge of love) in memory of Mohd. Quli Qutb and Bhagmati whose romance led to its construction. But today it presents an ugly sight with garbage and debris filling three of its 22 arches on the eastern and western sides.

Shifting hawkers

The 600-foot-long and 35-foot-broad bridge has become a veritable vegetable market with hawkers occupying it. “Though they are allotted space on the Sabzi Mandi road they prefer to do business on Puranapul only,” says Raj Kumar, a local businessman. Authorities are wary about disturbing the hawkers while protecting the heritage.

It is proposed to shift them temporarily till the bridge is cleaned. The Corporation has grand plans of setting up a museum adjacent to the Puranapul gate with pictures of the bridge and Musi shot by renowned photographer Raja Deen Dayal. However, restoration of the darwaza is beset with problems as two small temples are set up here and the gate given an ochre hue.

“The existing flooring will be removed and cobbling done around the gate to give it the heritage look. The door which is jammed due to disuse will be made functional,” Dr. Kedareshwari said. It is also proposed to restore the cannons atop the two bastions and take up heritage lighting.

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