Sultan Bazar traders observe bandh over metro route alignment

Traders in Sultan Bazar of the city today observed a bandh against the Telangana Government's decision to allow the elevated Hyderabad Metro Rail to pass through the area as per the original plan. As traders downed the shutters, some stretches of the bustling old commercial market wore a deserted look. They took to streets holding placards like 'Save Sultan Bazar' and 'Keep Your Promise KCR; Save Sultan Bazar'. The businessmen alleged that sticking to the original alignment of Metro route, which passes through the Bazar, will result in loss of livelihood for them as it their establishments will get demolished. Sultan Bazar mainly comprises garment and textile shops. The state government had earlier sought realignment in the metro route in order to bypass the Legislative Assembly building and Sultan Bazar. However, V B Gadgil, Chief Executive and Managing Director, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad), yesterday said the government has dropped its proposal seeking a realignment of the metro lines in the two locations. "The government has conveyed orally to go ahead with works at Sultan Bazar and Assembly areas as per the original alignment," he had said. Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner of Police (Sultan Bazar) Ravula Giridhar told PTI that the bandh was totally peaceful. "Only few traders, that too in a 100 meter stretch of Sultan Bazar, participated in the protests and downed shutters. Otherwise, shops in Badichowdi and most parts of Sultan Bazar and Koti remained opened," the ACP said. He said three protesters were taken into preventive custody and later released. Giridhar said the owners of the shops appear in favour of the government's move to stick to earlier alignment. However, tenants seemed to be opposing the move as they are now paying less rents and once the demolitions of the shops/buildings happen they will have to shift to other areas and have to pay more rents. L&T Metro Rail Hyderabad (L&TMRH), the concessionaire, is developing the 72-km elevated metro rail project here with three corridors and 66 stations.