Moula Ali Shrine ramp works near completion

Ramp construction at the Moula Ali hilltop shrine in Malkajgiri is nearing completion. Once finished, devotees will be able to reach the shrine by vehicle, providing major relief to elderly visitors and women who struggle with the steep climb.

HYDERABAD: The ramp construction works underway at Moula Ali shrine, at Malkajgiri are expected to be finished soon. Once completed, the ramp will help people drive to the hill top shrine without hardship.

The Moula Ali shrine stands at an elevation of approximately 614 metres above sea level. To reach the shrine, people have to walk 550 steps from the Malkajgiri mainroad.

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Climbing the 550 steps is not easy task, especially for the elderly. After complains of hardship for women and senior citizens the State government sanctioned construction of a ramp from the main road to the hilltop shrine to facilitate the travel of pilgrims. The works related to the construction of the ramp started in 2014 and the first phase of works were completed in 2017 covering 230 steps of the total 550 steps. The works on the second phase started in 2021 and are still going on.

The State government had sanctioned a budget of Rs 20 crore for the second phase of works, which were expected to be completed by the end of 2022. Additional funds were sanctioned later.

AIMIM party MLC Riyaz ul Hassan Effendi said the works are in final stage. “Around 20 per cent of the works are remaining and are to be executed. We are following with the departments concerned, we expect the works to be completed by next year end,” said Effendi.

The contractors faced a lot of problems creating ramp on the rocky terrain. They complained of difficulties in cutting the rock because on one side there is human habitation and detonators cannot be used to blast the rocks. Advanced machinery was deployed for rock cutting then.

As of now, cars can travel up to half the way, and from there on people have to take the steps to reach the shrine. Upon completion of the ramp works, the visitors can to the hilltop in vehicles without any problems. “It will prove to be of immense help for women and the elderly who cannot climb the steps to reach the shrine,” Effandi said.

The history of the Moula Ali shrine, according to legend, is that it was built during the reign of Sultan Ibrahim Qutb Shah, the third ruler of the Golconda kingdom. It is said a person Mallik Yakoot, during his visit to the hills saw the handprint of Imam Ali branded on a part of the rock. The tale of his find reached Sultan Ibrahim Qutb Shah who then had the hand mark carved out of the rock and placed in the great arch at the site.