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Delegation Urges Government to Reroute Metro Rail and Protect Hyderabad’s Heritage
Hyderabad 4rh May 2025,( PMI ): In a significant development today, Social Rights Activist Sarah Matthews and ACT Foundation President Mohammed Raheem Khan led a high-profile delegation to the historic Darulshifa Alawa-e-Sartouq in Hyderabad’s old city. The visit was organized at the request of the Shia Muslim Forum, amid growing concerns over the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project potentially threatening heritage sites in the area.
Among the dignitaries present were Najaf Ali Shoukath, Dr. Zeeshan Abbas(General secretary,Shia Muslim Forum ) Syed Ali HasanRazvi, Agha Alamdar,Imran Siddiqui’Shakeel Advocate’ YawerHussain,HyderHussainRazvi,NaserNawab’Qambera Ali (Ram Mohan) Ali and several other prominent Shia community members. The delegation toured not only the Darulshifa structure but also several other heritage sites along the proposed Metro route including Purani Haveli, Princess Esin School, Mandi Mir Alam Clock Tower, Daira Mir Momin, Dargah Aliya Razavia, and Akaknna Madanna Temple.
During the visit, Mohamed Ali, custodian of Alawa-e-Sartouq Mubarak, explained the historic and spiritual importance of the structure to the delegation. He highlighted its deep-rooted connection to the heritage of Hyderabad’s Shia community and its role as a center for religious and cultural gatherings for centuries.
Speaking to the media, Sarah Matthews raised serious concerns about the lack of transparency and public engagement in the Metro Rail development works. She emphasized the urgent need to balance progress with preservation, stating:
“Development without heritage preservation is cultural injustice. The old city deserves modernization, not erasure.”
Mohammed Raheem Khan reiterated that protecting historical and religious sites is a constitutional and moral responsibility. He called on the government to reroute the Metro Rail project, stressing that:
“Darulshifa Alawa-e-Sartouq and other Heritage Structures in the Charminar Precinct are not just religious monuments—it is a symbol of Hyderabad’s diverse cultural soul.”
Najaf Ali Shoukath decried the neglect and encroachments that have left Darulshifa in a dilapidated condition, and urged authorities to immediately begin restoration work.
During the visit, locals at various sites voiced appeals to safeguard their heritage, expressing anxiety over ongoing demolitions and the future of their communities.
Key Demands by the Delegation:
- Immediate halt to demolitions near heritage structures.
- Transparent public consultation process for all infrastructure projects in heritage areas.
- Rerouting of Metro Rail to protect religious and cultural sites.
- Dedicated restoration efforts for Darulshifa and other endangered monuments.
- Establishment of an Independent Heritage Oversight Committee.
The delegation has indicated that they will escalate the matter through legal and civil channels if their appeals go unheeded.(pressmediaofindia.com)
