Telangana govt to complete Charminar Pedestrianisation project

The Telangana government hopes to complete the 'Charminar Pedestrianisation Project' (CPP) in the old city of Hyderabad in about four to five months if "absolute cooperation" of all concerned is available. In his reply to a question on the project by MIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi and other MLAs of the party in the Legislative Assembly, Telangana Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao agreed that there has been delay in completing the project. He said he would hold a meeting of legislators from the old city within a week and also visit the area to see that the implementation of the project moves ahead smoothly. The CPP was conceived mainly to decongest the precincts around Charminar and to achieve a quality urban environment. Noting that the project began in 1993, Owaisi said it is no where near completion. He and other party MLAs highlighted the problems of shopkeepers and hawkers who would be affected by the project and the need to address their concerns. Thousands of tourists come to see Charminar but there are not enough toilets for them, Owaisi said, expressing concern over pollution affecting the monument. The minister said the government is thinking of introducing battery-operated vehicles in the area.