Osmania Hospital Restoration Debate Continues

Hyderabad: Will Osmania Hospital’s Heritage Building Finally Be Restored?

The heritage building of Osmania General Hospital (OGH) in Hyderabad has been out of use since mid-2020, following severe flooding caused by rainwater. Over the years, the future of this culturally significant site has been a subject of heated debate, with various stakeholders clashing over whether to restore the historic structure or demolish it to make way for a new hospital.

The announcement by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy on August 2 brought a ray of hope to heritage activists. The state government plans to construct a new site for OGH at Goshamahal while also committing to restoring the old heritage structure. This dual approach aims to address both healthcare needs and heritage conservation. The Congress party had also included the restoration of the OGH heritage building in its manifesto during the previous Assembly elections, yet no significant progress has been made to date.

The issue of OGH’s future has seen numerous twists, especially since 2020 when rainwater seeped into the building, rendering it unusable. A group of doctors has since called for its demolition, intensifying the controversy. The All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi has also played a crucial role in this saga. In 2021, Owaisi indirectly supported the demolition of the heritage structure, stating he had no attachment to it and urging the then Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government to build a new hospital. Public criticism of his stance led to a shift in his position, where he later expressed support for preserving the building.

A senior Congress leader from Hyderabad highlighted the political sensitivity of the issue, noting that the restoration promise in their manifesto would depend on their relationship with AIMIM. “Since it falls in the Old City and the party is on good terms with AIMIM, we have to see how they will respond,” he remarked. Source

Owaisi’s inconsistent statements have caused further frustration among activists. In 2022, during the foundation stone laying ceremony of the Sardar Mahal building at Charminar, he reiterated his lack of affection for the OGH heritage structure, dismissing conservationist concerns.

Renowned architect Srinivas Murthy from Hyderabad, who has designed notable hospital campuses, believes the restoration will eventually happen. “The Congress also put it in their manifesto, so they are bound to do it,” he stated. Murthy pointed out that the heritage building occupies only three out of the 26 acres of the hospital premises, suggesting that a super-specialty hospital could be constructed on a smaller portion of the land while preserving the historical structure.

The Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) convenor Anuradha Reddy found the chief minister’s comments on OGH encouraging. However, other activists remain skeptical, preferring to wait for tangible action.

Historical Significance and Restoration Efforts

Osmania Hospital, completed in 1925, was commissioned following a bubonic plague outbreak in 1911. The then Nizam of Hyderabad, Osman Ali Khan, established the City Improvement Board (CIB) in 1912 to enhance the city’s infrastructure. Architect Vincent Esch, known for designing the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata, designed the hospital. The building, a fine example of the Indo-Saracenic architectural style, is a vital part of Hyderabad’s 20th-century skyline.

Despite its historical importance, restoration efforts have been sporadic. A 2013 report suggested constructing a new building block for Rs 100 crore and restoring the old structure for Rs 19 crore. After the formation of Telangana in 2014, then-CM KCR visited OGH in 2015 and announced its demolition, sparking public outcry. INTACH’s expert team subsequently submitted a study advocating for the conservation of the in-patient block based on heritage principles.

In 2019, state officials and architects from the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) inspected OGH for potential restoration, but no progress followed. The building has remained closed since mid-2020, after rainwater flooding caused by a blocked drain led to its shutdown.

The fate of Osmania General Hospital’s heritage building continues to hang in the balance. While the Telangana government’s recent announcement offers hope, activists and concerned citizens remain vigilant, awaiting concrete steps to preserve this historical landmark.

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