Hyderabad Old City development received a fresh funding and administrative push after Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka directed officials to clear hurdles affecting education infrastructure, a pending multi-storeyed building near Haj House and two proposed minority Study Circles.
The decisions were taken at a high-level review meeting on minority welfare chaired by Vikramarka at Praja Bhavan on Friday. The meeting covered infrastructure, education funding and welfare schemes for minority communities in Telangana, with particular focus on Hyderabad’s Old City.
Vikramarka directed the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) to release Rs 25 crore from the amount due to the Wakf Board for wakf land used in various road-widening projects. The funds have been earmarked for completing the partially constructed building adjacent to Haj House in Nampally, where construction has remained pending for several years.
Once completed, the building can accommodate a Study Circle for minority students as well as offices of the Minorities Welfare Department, according to the report. The Deputy Chief Minister also said there would be no delays in clearing bills related to buildings for educational institutions.
The review also addressed delays in establishing two Study Circles, one each in Moghalpura and Bandlaguda. Vikramarka asked the GHMC to examine the issues holding up the facilities. AIMIM floor leader in the Legislative Assembly Akbaruddin Owaisi offered ready-to-use space at both locations and was asked to formally submit the proposal to the government.
The government’s announcements link civic administration with education infrastructure in some of Hyderabad’s densely settled and historically significant neighbourhoods. The proposed facilities are intended to improve access to academic support and competitive-examination preparation for minority students, while the Haj House building is expected to consolidate welfare-related functions and educational services in one location.
Vikramarka also assured the meeting that funds for schools, Study Circles and other educational institutions serving minority communities would not be delayed. He said the government would take steps to expand opportunities for higher education and would consider adding Egypt and Saudi Arabia to the list of countries covered under Telangana’s Overseas Scholarship programme for eligible minority students.
The meeting followed an assurance made in the Legislative Assembly by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and Vikramarka that the government would address concerns raised by minority communities. Other matters discussed included Shaadi Mubaarak, alternate land for an Islamic Cultural Centre, applications under the Rajiv Yuva Vikasam scheme and pre-Matric Scholarships.
Officials attending the meeting included Minorities Welfare Minister Md. Azharuddin, Akbaruddin Owaisi, principal secretary for minorities welfare Ahmad Nadeem, secretary B. Shafiullah and GHMC commissioner R.V. Karnan. The next steps are the formal submission of space proposals for the two Study Circles, the release of the earmarked GHMC funds and orders to clear administrative obstacles affecting the projects.
