The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has issued a tender for constructing a multi-level underground parking facility at the Paigah Palace complex in Pattigadda. The ₹7.78 crore project is planned within the palace grounds that house the Devdi Iqbal ud Dowla or Mardana Mahal, a structure built in the 1890s. The proposal has raised serious concerns among heritage conservationists and members of the Paigah family about potential damage to the historic property.
Obaid ur Rahman, a Paigah scion residing near the palace, questioned the feasibility and appropriateness of the project. He expressed concerns about where the parking facility would be built, whether under the gardens or the fountain at the front of the palace. Rahman drew comparisons to heritage sites in Europe where visitors park their vehicles away from the monuments and walk to them. He also noted that a flyover is planned on the other side of the road in front of the palace where he lives, adding to the infrastructure pressure on the heritage area.
The palace is situated in a 5-acre leafy enclave and is designated as a Schedule IIB listed heritage site under HMDA’s own regulations that mandate intelligent conservation. According to rules dating from 1995 by the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority, the predecessor of HMDA, such sites are described as local landmarks contributing to the image and identity of the city. The tender document includes a condition requiring bidders to demonstrate that 25% of the total similar work value (₹1.95 crore) must be from renovation or construction of heritage structures only.
The tender document reveals that the project may involve the use of explosives during construction, despite the proximity to the nineteenth century palace. The document states that the contractor must engage a licensed blaster for blasting operations and comply with the Indian Explosive Act and other prevailing rules during execution. The contractor is also responsible for ensuring that works by other agencies in the vicinity are not hampered. The palace structure is primarily built with limestone and rock, raising questions about how blasting operations might affect its structural integrity.
According to the tender document, the contractor is required to act in accordance with the Indian Explosive Act and other rules prevailing during the execution of work. The responsibility lies with the contractor to ensure that works by other agencies in the vicinity are not hampered during the blasting operations required for the underground parking facility construction.
