Had it not been for Hyderabad Police Commissioner CV Anand a vintage structure would have vanished from the city skyline!
In an era when old heritage buildings are fast losing out to industrialised modern structures, the City police decided to restore the Purani Haveli building that houses the 103-year-old Kotwal’s office to its original glory, for its existence is intertwined with the history of Hyderabad.
HISTORICAL LINKS
The Hyderabad City police as a law enforcement agency was constituted a decade before the First War of Independence, in March 1847, under the then Nizam. The police commissioner was called the ‘Kotwal’ and the historic Kotwali building was established in 1920. The building housed the Kotwali office till 2002 when it was relocated to Basheerbagh.
Over the last two decades, the building has been a camp office, where key review meetings are held. But recently a portion of its roof caved in, causing concern. By restoring the heritage building to its original form, the officer hopes to illustrate the rich 176-year-old history of the Hyderabad police.
“Due to its close proximity to many iconic structures, religious places, and other crowded areas, many of my predecessors preferred to camp here while monitoring Friday prayers, large-scale events, and other processions. I had been continuing the same tradition and could notice its deteriorating condition,” Mr. Anand shared with Indian Masterminds.
MUCH NEEDED ATTENTION
One day, while conducting his usual meetings in the office, the roof of the building caved in, not far away from the officer. He understood the emergency, but he had a concern.
“Being a Hyderabadi, I could not let go of this rich structure. I felt it is our responsibility to conserve and revive these heritage structures and luckily received help in doing so,” shared the officer, who actually operates from the Integrated Command and Control Centre in Banjara Hills since 2022, and only uses the Kotwali as a camp office in the old city.
RESPONSIBLE RENOVATION
Deccan Terrain, a company engaged in taking up restoration and conservation of heritage structures, will carry out the restoration using materials like quick lime, hydrated lime, raw gum extracts, fibres, and other materials, which were used for the construction of buildings, a century ago.
Another company called ‘GreenKo’, will sponsor the restoration project. The work is expected to be completed within six months. The total cost of the project would be approximately Rs. 2 crore.
“To keep its authenticity intact, they will not change the design, structure, or elevation of the building. They will restore the building using originally used materials and make sure not to demolish anything that speaks volumes of the Kotwal office’s rich heritage,” Mr. Anand told Indian Masterminds.
The new structure will have a completely revived meeting hall, CP office, and the DCP’s office. The Commissioner is expecting to inaugurate the renovated building by November, this year.
The officer inspected the structure and unveiled the plaque to mark the beginning of restoration works of the heritage building, on May 9.
