HMDA shift to Paigah Palace delayed due to restoration challenges

The HMDA’s proposed shift to Paigah Palace in Begumpet has been delayed due to complex restoration and conservation challenges. Extensive renovation is required to preserve the heritage structure, with costs estimated at Rs 2–3 crore and timelines likely to be revised.

Hyderabad: The shifting of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) functioning from its present address at Swarnajayanthi Complex, Ameerpet, to the iconic Paigah Palace, Begumpet, is delayed with restoration work inside the palace posing complex challenges.

The US Consulate General Office operated from the Paigah Palace between 2008 and 2023 before moving in March 2023 to its own premises in Nanakramguda.

The proposal to shift HMDA functioning to Paigah Palace was made by the State government to consolidate HMDA operations that presently are spread across Ameerpet main office, Hyderabad Growth Corridor Limited at Nanakramguda, and the Buddha Purnima Project office in Tank Bund.

The HMDA engineering officials inspected the premises and assessed the need for extensive internal renovation. An HMDA engineer who inspected the premises recently told Telangana Today that a lot of internal renovation was carried out by the US Consulate personnel to meet the needs of their functioning.

“The works included renovation to US specifications and the installation of iron grilles fixed to support pillars in the main halls and inner rooms for air-conditioning purposes, to make the palace secure,” he said.

Also, the intricate architectural details and heritage elements of the palace require specialised conservation efforts. Officials said maintaining the original grandeur of the structure while ensuring structural stability was proving to be a complex task.

The restoration process has proven to be more complex than initially anticipated, requiring additional time and resources to ensure the preservation of the palace’s historical integrity, said the official. According to preliminary estimation, HMDA will need Rs 2 to Rs 3 crore for the restoration works, officials said.

The State government had scheduled the shift by March 2026, but the delays are likely to result in the timelines being reworked and revised.

Paigah Palace Heritage: 

* Constructed by Sir Vicar-ul-Umra, a distinguished Paigah nobleman

* Features spacious rooms and intricate architectural details

* Has a high ceiling, measuring 22 ft on the ground floor and 26 ft on the first floor

* Has four huge halls and over 20 spacious rooms

* Central portion, with rectangular vents, resembles a chimney and provides sunlight and fresh air

* Pediments atop doors have intricate work, and floral patterns

* Four-storey modern annex, with two floors each matching the ground and first floors of the old one, was built in 1999