Garden View Mall on Wakf land near Haj House lies unused for over 15 years

Garden View Mall, a seven-storey commercial building on Wakf land near Haj House, has remained largely unused for over 15 years. Rainwater reportedly stagnates in its basement, prompting activists to demand a structural assessment and completion of pending works.

Hyderabad: A seven-storey commercial building constructed on Wakf land next to the Haj House has remained largely unused for over 15 years, with rainwater reportedly stagnating in its two-level basement for years, raising concerns over the condition of the structure.

Named ‘Garden View Mall’, the building stands on about 3,800 sq ft and was conceived as a revenue-generating asset for the Telangana Wakf Board. The rental and lease income was intended to support minority welfare schemes.

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The foundation stone for the project was laid by then Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in 2009. Though the main concrete structure was substantially completed around 2013-14, the project was left incomplete due to shortage of funds, legal issues and bureaucratic delays.

The building is used as a dining facility during the Haj season, but remains largely unutilised for the rest of the year. The prolonged stagnation of rainwater in the basement has triggered concerns over seepage, corrosion and possible weakening of the structure. Activists have questioned why the Wakf Board failed to protect and maintain the property despite its prime location.

“The Wakf Board has done little to protect and maintain the building. Imagine the damage caused when rainwater is allowed to stagnate in the basement for years,” said Wakf activist Syed Ifteqar Hussaini.

Social activist Azmath Jaffery, said the government should conduct a structural assessment and complete the pending works without further delay.

“The building was constructed to generate revenue for minority welfare. Keeping such a valuable property idle for years defeats its purpose,” he said.

Several proposals have been made over the years, including leasing the building for commercial use, housing minority department offices and establishing training centres. A proposal to lease it to the hotel industry has also been discussed, with a provision to keep the premises available during the Haj Camp.

Officials have remained tight-lipped about the present status of the project, leaving the valuable Wakf property exposed to further deterioration.