Sultan Bazar traders say HMR's 'agreement' claim false;protest

A group of traders from Sultan Bazar today held a protest in front of Metro Rail Bhavan here against proposed alignment of Metro Rail route in their area, a day after Hyderabad Metro Rail (HMR) officials claimed achievement of a "breakthrough" on the contentious issue. The members associated with 'Sultan Bazar Building Owners Association' and 'Sultan Bazar Hawkers Association' under the banner of 'Sultan Bazar Traders Association' assembled in front of Metro Rail Bhavan holding placards with message 'keep your promise KCR, save Sultan Bazar' written on them and raised slogans. The members condemned the statement issued by HMR yesterday which said that "we have settled the matter with Hyderabad Metro Rail". They said no officials of either HMR or government have invited them for discussion on the proposed Metro route passing through the busy commercial market. "The announcement that an agreement was reached on a special package between traders, owners and hawkers operating in Sultan Bazar and officials is false," said S Sudhir Kumar, president of Sultan Bazar Building Owners Association. He said that yesterday's meeting with HMR officials was attended by those people who are not associated with the body. "Only certain people attended the meeting and they are not associated with us. We were never consulted and we have not reached any agreement. We request the government to verify the reality in the market and know about the genuine affected people of the market (sic). "We once again request HMR and government to look into our demand to realign the Metro route from Sultan Bazar as promised by Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao earlier and save the livelihood of thousands of people and the heritage market," the members said. HMR officials had said that an agreement on a special package between traders, owners and hawkers operating in Sultan Bazar and officials was reached in yesterday's meeting. At the meeting with Traders' Joint Action Committee, HMR Managing Director NVS Reddy had informed the gathering that the Chief Minister had directed HMR officials to arrive at a mutually agreeable special package to Badi Chowdi-Sultan Bazaar-Koti area, given its special place in history and culture of Hyderabad.