Shamshabad A suburb of lost vineyards

Shamshabad is a suburb on the outskirts of the city abutting the Bengaluru highway. About five lakh people live in this suburb. Apart from the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, the other major landmarks include Sri Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple (700 years old ), three lakes including Naga Samudram, Bachu Kunta and Kottha Cheruvu, HUDA Colony and a police station from the Nizam’s era.

History

Previously known as Sedanti village, Shamshabad was renamed after a noble Nawab Shamsa-Ul-Umara. Shamsa-Ul-Umara founded the Paigah nobility during the reign of Nizam II, Mir Nizam Ali Khan (1762-1803). Nawab Moin-ud-Daula Bahadur, a leading Paigah noble, built a country home on a hillock in the area and even had a race course of his own.

The construction of the international airport began in September 2005 and was opened for traffic in March 2008. The airport was built on an area of 5,500 acres making it the largest airport in India in terms of area. It was designed by UK engineering design firm Arup, which designed Dubai Terminal 3 and Beijing Terminal.

Problems

Gade Rajasekhar, a senior citizen, said, “Till 1978, there was no power supply. Major crops like paddy, jowar, castor, groundnut and red gram were grown in the area which was fed by around 180 wells. Till 1995, 4,500 acres of grape yards used to mark the area which has now vanished completely.

There is no underground drainage system and the existing lakes are now polluted.” AR Sreenivas, DCP, Shamshabad, said, “The entire area is sensitive and highly secured due to the existence of the airport and other scientific and defence establishments. There are many accidents despite the presence of caution boards.”

By:Ch Saibaba