Reimagined Mahbub Chowk plaza to become a stopover for tourists and visitors

Mirza Jehangir Baig sits just off the pavement of the Mahbub Clock Tower square in Hyderabad, just as he has sat all his life of over 60 years. The only difference, he used to sit facing the road. Now he sits facing the Clock Tower looking at what used to be the shop selling metal articles, plumbing and gardening tools, both new and old.

“Sab barkhast ho gaya (we have lost everything),” says Mr. Mirza as his children pack off the goods to relocate. He is among the dozens of shopkeepers who has lost his makeshift stalls on the pavement — to demolitions — surrounding the 1890 ceremonial Clock Tower square. The two-hour demolitions on Saturday (April 4, 2026) were part of the larger plan to reclaim a heritage space that is part of the historical neighbourhood of Charminar, Chowmahalla Palace, Laad Baazar and the Jama Masjid.