Historic edifice’s long wait for makeover

Secunderabad: It is one of the most iconic buildings in Secunderabad and no one can miss it. With a history of 117 years, the Ramgopalpet Police Station on MG Road has all the credentials to be turned into a police museum but, unfortunately lying abandoned for the past one year.

Discussions of turning the police station into a museum have not materialised and what one finds is two policemen stationed outside the building who direct people to Ministers Road where the police station has been relocated.

The police station is typical of the architecture of the old times and the clock donated in 1900 by Dewan Bahadur Seth Ramgopal, who was an industrialist during the Nizam era, evokes memories of the past and adds splendour to the structure. Russi, a resident says, “We cannot afford to lose the building. Over the years, the structure was painted in gaudy colours. The need is to give it a limestone makeover. The building adds so much character to the street.”

Ramgopalpet is one of the police stations in the city that bears the typical look of Nizami enforcement building. The whitewashed building with the Nizami PWD seal on it was a model that was followed by the city's rulers till the beginning of the 20th century.

Conservationists said that the move to preserve the building would be a tribute to our precious heritage which is slowly disappearing from the city. “When dozens of such structures are being razed due to poor maintenance, the decision of the police department to conserve Ramgopalpet station, which is a landmark for ages, is commendable.

According to officials, once developed, the museum would have artifacts that are part of the police history in the State, even from the time of the Nizam’s rule. Among the items that would be showcased are archaic records that are currently preserved in different old police stations in the city.

When The Hans India spoke to Murali, Inspector of Ramgopalpet Police Station, on the chances of it being converted into a museum, he said, “Last September, we vacated the place as it was leaking. Four months ago, a team from GHMC visited the building and took stock of the condition.”

“The front portion of the building is in good condition but wooden work in the rear part of the building is not in good condition,” he added. Heavy rains in 2016 took a toll on the building and as a result, the police station was shifted.
Though the GHMC officials visited and promised to take up repairs, nothing has moved forward so far.

Though designated as a heritage building in 1988, maintenance is far from satisfactory. Sreedhar, a resident of Marredpally, said, “Old pictures of James Street show the building in its full glory. These old buildings add great value and are major tourist attractions. Even if it is not made into a museum, it can be conserved for it is synonymous with Secunderabad.”

By T P Venu