Puranapul bridge repair works initiated by GHMC

The Puranapul bridge in Hyderabad, which is the oldest bridge in the city, is set to be restored to its former glory by the Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) department. The bridge has been in a pitiful condition for years, with cracks developing after heavy rains in recent years. However, officials have now been instructed to undertake repair works and conservation efforts, including removing encroachments and clearing wild trees. The hawkers who do business on the bridge have resisted the move to remove their encroachments, but officials have urged them to cooperate for the restoration work. It has been observed that hawkers dispose of organic and inorganic waste into the Musi river, which is known for high pollution levels. The bridge was built in 1578 by Ibrahim Qutb Shah and has 22 arches, measuring 600 ft long, 35 ft wide and 54 ft above the Musi river.