Tick-tock finally at Mahboob Chowk

Charminar: Tourists to the old city now have another spot to go to; the Mahboob Chowk Clock Tower, a five-storied architectural Turkish style clock tower built in 1892 by Asman Jah, Prime Minister of Hyderabad is now in the final stages of completion and is glowing brightly. Being renovated at a cost of Rs 1 crore, the clock tower that was languishing in neglect for all these years is already attracting tourists.

On March 22, 2018 AIMIM leader Akbaruddin Owaisi along with the then Deputy CM Mahmood Ali, Chief Secretary and GHMC Commissioner inspected the Clock Tower and work started the very next day.Plastering, painting and finishing is completed and the clocks of the clock tower too have been repaired. The surroundings of the structure will also be cleaned and beautified very soon, says Dattupant superintendent engineer, south zone, GHMC.

The Turkish style clock tower is considered to be an important part of Hyderabad architectural heritage and this is located west of the Charminar, near Laad Bazar. This clock tower structure was damaged nearly 70 to 80 percent and the surroundings were in worst condition.

Garden too to get a makeover
As was the trend during the 1890s, clock towers would be surrounded by gardens and the Mahboob Chowk clock tower too had an elevated garden. Thanks to increase in population and mushrooming of shops, the garden lost its charm over the decades and by the early 90s, urchins, drunkards and vagabonds frequented the place. Old timers say, there were fountains in the garden but they vanished.

GHMC officials say that there are funds available for the garden and the priority is to remove encroachments around the premises and complete the electricity works.
An interesting feature about the five-storied structure is an example of Indo-European synthesis of architectural design and the clocks that were imported from London have withstood the vagaries of time.

-M M Farooqui