DHAT urges Telangana to conserve historic Nizam-era Musi bridge

The Deccan Heritage Academy Trust has urged the Telangana government to conserve and restore the historic Nizam-era stone bridge across the Musi River at Tekumatla. It proposed developing the structure into a heritage tourism destination through a Public-Private Partnership model

Hyderabad: Vedakumar Manikonda, Chairman of the Deccan Heritage Academy Trust (DHAT), has submitted a representation to R&B Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, requesting the immediate conservation, protection and adaptive reuse of the historic Nizam-era stone bridge across the Musi River at Tekumatla in Suryapet district.

He urged the government to develop this unique heritage structure into a landmark heritage tourism destination of national importance. Located on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada NH-65, the historic bridge is an example of stone masonry bridge engineering from the Nizam period.

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Measuring approximately 370 metres in length and comprising 73 stone arches, the bridge represents an outstanding achievement in engineering, architecture and heritage construction, Vedakumar said.

The bridge has national historical importance, as historical records indicate that a portion of it was damaged during Operation Polo in 1948 to delay the advance of the Indian Army before being subsequently restored.

Following the construction of the new NH-65 bridge, the historic structure has fallen into disuse and is rapidly deteriorating due to neglect, unchecked vegetation growth and natural weathering. Unless immediate conservation measures are undertaken, this invaluable heritage monument risks irreversible damage and eventual loss.

Vedakumar proposed that the bridge be adaptively reused under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model as a world-class heritage riverfront tourism destination. He envisaged a pedestrian promenade, landscaped riverfront, cafés, handicraft outlets and cultural performance spaces.