Plea to build Osmania General Hospital new towers aesthetically

Afzalgunj: While appreciating the visit of Health Minister Etala Rajender to Osmania General Hospital on Tuesday, where he announced the restoration of the old structure along with the construction of four new towers, the Osmania Hospital JAC urged him to ensure that the new towers are welded in such a way with the old structure that they not only remain functional, but appear aesthetic and futuristic.

Dr Md Iqbal Jaweed, Executive Member, Osmania alumni, IMA, and member of Osmania Hospital JAC, Dr Surender Reddy of AAPIO (American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin), Dr Sultana Ameer Ali khan, a noted gynaecologist based in USA, Anuradha Reddy, the convener of INTACH Hyderabad chapter, Dr Pandu Naik of JAC and Dr B Nagender, the Superintendent of OGH, expressed their gratitude over the visit of Health Minister who had announced Rs 25 crore allocations for the project.

"The efforts of the joint action committee and other groups – both national and international – for renovation of Osmania General Hospital succeeded and the government of Telangana accepted the demand to renovate the Heritage building and also to construct towers for the extension of the hospital," they said.

Kin of last Nizam hail the decision

In his letter of appreciation to the Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and Health Minister Etala Rajender, the grandson of last Nizam, Nawab Najaf Ali Khan, welcomed the decision. "The Osmania General Hospital building was built by my grandfather Mir Osman Ali Khan Bahadur (Nizam VII) in 1919 and the treatment, medicines, food for the patients and their attendees were given free from the royal treasury during his reign," he recalled.

This hospital, he stated, was one of the premier hospitals of India and has been serving the underprivileged for a long time now. "The renovation of this hospital will bring a fresh breath of life to the poor people. We welcome the restoration announcement which will help to bring back the glory of Osmania Hospital heritage building," he added.

INTACH survey take up with Minister

Speaking to The Hans India, the Member of JAC, Iqbal recalled his meeting with the Minister held at the Secretariat on April 18. During the meeting, he explained to the Minister in detail about the issues on the campus of Osmania hospital which is spread in 27 acres and availability of space to avoid damaging old structure. He also brought to the Minister's notice the heritage building's importance and medical history.

He also provided insight into the INTACH survey report whose study has certified the structure stability of old structure for another 200 years. The proposal was also spoke about the dilapidated structures around the main heritage building, which must be demolished and encroachments should be removed. These should be enlisted as priority areas while planning further extensions.

"I on behalf of Osmania Alumni and Telangana citizens thank the Minister for giving a patient hearing and assuring me that the heritage building will not be demolished and a suitable new building will be constructed. We will extend all the cooperation needed for this project," he stated, expressing gratitude to the Minister in a letter.

New towers should be aligned with old one

However, he held that proposed towers in the vicinity of the heritage structure should ensure that the aesthetic nature and beauty of the grand old monument is not undermined. "In the unified AP state, the aesthetic nature of the some of the historic monuments was undermined by the construction of new structures in the vicinity.

For instance, the High Court remains one of the most beautiful structures of city landscapes, but to accommodate the increasing demand of judiciary a huge building was constructed on the premises without keeping in mind the aesthetics and without making any effort for maintaining congruency. When the State government goes for the project it must ensure that international architects compete and a global tender is floated for construction of the modern building, which can accommodate all the aesthetic values," he noted.