Murgi Chowk Market Reconstruction Delays Leave Hyderabad Traders Displaced

Traders displaced by the demolition of the historic Mahbub Chowk Market, popularly known as Murgi Chowk, in Hyderabad's Khilwat area continue to wait for their new complex nearly three years after work began. The Quli Qutub Shah Urban Development Authority (QQSUDA) took up the Rs 36-crore redevelopment project to replace the structurally unsafe 135-year-old market, but slow progress has left many local shopkeepers struggling on roadsides or forced out of business.

The proposed four-block market complex is designed to house 292 shops, expanding from the 198 shops that existed prior to demolition. The project includes dedicated zones for poultry and meat businesses, alongside modern drainage and wastewater treatment systems. QQSUDA aims to retain the market's heritage character, preserving its original architectural façade and iconic clock tower.

As an interim arrangement in 2022, officials relocated displaced shopkeepers to temporary premises at the old Pension Office and the Khazana-e-Aamira grounds in Khilwat without charging rent. However, the temporary arrangements accommodated only a portion of the affected merchants. Many remaining traders have been compelled to operate along nearby roads, while others have closed their shops completely due to mounting losses.

Displaced trader Shareef stated that shopkeepers were initially assured the new complex would be completed within a year, but work remains unfinished. Mohd Kaleem, another merchant operating from the temporary Khilwat site for the past three years, noted that only a few traders secured space in the temporary setup, leaving others to conduct business on the streets or shutter their operations entirely.

A senior QQSUDA official stated that ceiling works are currently underway on the complex. Officials attributed the project delays to budget constraints, prolonged monsoon rains that interrupted construction, technical issues encountered during execution, and the intricate requirements of restoring a heritage building without damaging its original character.

Built in 1892 during the reign of the sixth Nizam, Mir Mahbub Ali Khan, the market was initially established for trading groceries, birds, and antique items. Over time, it developed into the city's primary meat and poultry hub, earning the popular name Murgi Chowk.