The famous Nampally Sarai, also known as Tipu Khan Sarai, is in a dangerous condition and has been turned into a taxi stand. The 113-year-old heritage structure has cracks and needs immediate restoration. Local activists have been raising concerns about the neglect of the structure, as their proposal to turn it into a guest house has not been implemented. Currently, the premises are being used as a taxi stand and there are reports of anti-social activities taking place at night.
The Nampally Sarai, built by Nawab Tipu Khan Bhadur in 1910, is a beautiful heritage structure near Nampally Railway Station. It covers an area of 5828 sq yards. Nawab Tipu Khan Bahadur, a high-ranked official working for Nizam 6th Mir Mahboob Ali Khan and an avid traveller, decided to build the sarai in his home city of Hyderabad. He provided free stay and ration to all guests for three days, regardless of their caste or creed.
After the merger of Hyderabad with the Indian Union, the sarai was used as a guest house for government officials. However, despite various initiatives, no concrete action has been taken to preserve the structure. The sarai received the Heritage award in 2012 and is currently in a deteriorating condition.
Local residents have complained about the disarray of the structure, with cracked walls and portions of the building being damaged. In 2019, a portion of the structure even collapsed. The increase in anti-social activities at night has made commuting from the area difficult for locals.
It is important for the respective departments to address this issue and save the structure and its history. The state government should consider restoring it and turning it into a guest house that can benefit sportspeople from different states.
