Hyderabad: The State government is planning to build a new Osmania Hospital at the Goshamahal police quarters and grounds. However, the local residents in the area are strongly opposing this idea. They want the hospital to be relocated to another part of the city.
People living in areas like Arya Samaj Mandir, Joshiwadi, Chaknawadi, and Kotha Basti have come together to form a group called the ‘Goshamahal Parirakshana Samithi’. This group is fighting against the government’s proposal. They have started a signature campaign, going door to door to gather support from residents who also oppose the hospital being built there.
One of the main concerns of the locals is the traffic problem in the Goshamahal area. The roads are narrow, and there are already traffic jams due to nearby markets. For example, there is a large fish market in Begum Bazar, and the biggest Kirana and plastic market is in the area, which keeps the roads busy day and night. The annual Industrial Exhibition held from January to February also adds to the traffic. They believe that adding a hospital to this crowded area would make the situation even worse.
B Srinivas, a leader of the Samithi, said that people from all political backgrounds are united in their opposition. He expressed concern about the safety and sanitation problems a hospital could bring, especially in case of a health crisis like COVID-19. He also pointed out that the area is mainly residential, and having a mortuary nearby could disturb the residents. The Samithi plans to submit their concerns to politicians like MP Asaduddin Owaisi, MLA T Raja Singh, and Health Minister D Rajanarsimha.
Another member of the Samithi, Vinod Yadav, added that the population of the area is around 60-70,000 people, and building a hospital here is not a good idea. He mentioned that the current Osmania Hospital is in a better location because it is near Afzalgunj Bus Station. In comparison, the Goshamahal area is too congested, and emergency vehicles might struggle to reach the hospital in time due to traffic. He also said that cultural events like Mata Jagran, held during Devi Navratri, would be affected if the hospital is built there.
The Samithi members plan to submit the signatures they collect to Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, urging him to reconsider the location of the hospital. They suggested that the hospital could be built in its original place or relocated to other areas, like Malakpet, where IT towers are proposed.
