Daily Archives: August 21, 2014

Hyderabad Metro rail alignment shift to protect monuments

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel
Coaches of the Hyderabad Metro (Photo: PTI/File)
Coaches of the Hyderabad Metro (Photo: PTI/File)

Hyderabad:

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday said that the Hyderabad Metro Rail alignment was being changed to protect Sultan Bazaar, Moazzamjahi market and the Telangana martyrs’ memorial.

He said that the government had already conveyed its decision to L&T.

L&T has requested to alter the Metro Rail route by the Telangana government.

“We have suggested that the Metro route should be diverted towards Kacheguda at Narayanguda to avoid Sultan Bazaar. Besides, we are looking at diverting the Metro to behind the Assembly building to avoid the Telangana martyrs’ memorial. Also, realigning the Moazzamjahi market route is being worked out,” Chief Minister Mr K. Chandrasekhar Rao said.

He added that he had had detailed discussions with HMR and L&T officials over realigning the route and they were convinced with the alternatives proposed by the government.

However, the government has softened it’s earlier stand on taking the Metro underground at these localities and has instead pitched for realignment after builder L&T cited huge financial repercussion that would make the project unviable.

Mr Rao blamed the previous government for entering into an agreement with L&T without addressing Sultan Bazaar and other contentious issues. “When I proposed the alternate routes they were convinced. They said that the then government had not brought these issues to their notice, else they would have planned accordingly,” Mr Rao said.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC Correspondent / August 18th, 2014

Kakatiya dynasty in the spotlight

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Records, All

Hyderabad :

The Kakatiya dynasty, which ruled from Warangal from AD 1083-1323, seems to be in the spotlight post bifurcation.

The Golconda fort, where chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will celebrate the Independence Day for the first time in Telangana state, was constructed by the Kakatiya rulers. Built between AD 945-970, the fort has carvings and relief work in stucco, consisting of lions, peacocks, griffins and lotus, at the entrance of Balahisar. This is often cited as evidence of the fort’s original ownership by the Archaelogical Survey of India.

Previously a mud fort, it was Prataparudra, the last Kakatiya king, who fortified it. It was during his tenure itself that the fort was ceded to the Bahmanis in AD 1363 following a defeat. Almost two centuries later, the Golconda fort became the capital of the Qutb Shahi kings, who ruled from AD 1518-1687.

Prataparudra’s grandmother Rani Rudramadevi too has emerged from history into prominence for the new state. The valour of the queen, who ruled from AD 1259-1289 has fascinated poets, writers and historians across generations. No wonder then that her name also figures in the proposed Telangana state song. Her statue is among the several that dot Tank Bund beside Hussainsagar.

Rani Rudramadevi was the daughter of King Ganapathideva, who, incidentally, strengthened the Warangal fort which features in the emblem of the new state. As the king did not have a son, he rechristened Rudramba as Rudradeva through a Putrika ceremony, thus designating her as a ?son’ so that she could be the heir.

The queen’s story is set to be re-told as a Rs 60 crore budget 3D stereoscopic film directed by filmmaker Gunasekhar. Titled ?Rudramadevi – the warrior queen’, the film is being made in Telugu and Tamil and is expected to be released in October. Its shooting began at the Thousand Pillar Temple in Warangal in February 2013.

“I have been working on the script for 10 years to show the glory of the Kakatiya kings. We also consulted historians,” Gunasekhar said, adding that actor Anushka Shetty, who plays the main protagonist, learnt horse-riding and sword-fighting to do justice to the role. “I never knew that Rani Rudramadevi was such a great queen until the story was narrated to me by the director. We are working to show the queen the way she was,” Anushka said.

Incidentally, during the shooting for the film at Rama Naidu Studios in June this year, 1.5 kg of gold ornaments meant for the main actor were reported stolen. However, the case was solved later and the ornaments recovered from an ‘insider’.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / August 14th, 2014

City boy wins silver in Youth Olympics

Records, All, Sports
Ragala Venkata Rahul, who was adjudged ‘best lifter’in the recent Commonwealth Youth and Junior weightlifting championship in Penang (Malaysia). Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Ragala Venkata Rahul, who was adjudged ‘best lifter’in the recent Commonwealth Youth and Junior weightlifting championship in Penang (Malaysia). Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Ragala Venkata Rahul of Telangana Sports School (Hakimpet) won India’s only medal in the ongoing Youth Olympics in Nanjing (China) when he clinched the silver in the 77 kg category with an effort of 316 kg (141+175), according to Badeti Venkatramaiah, secretary of AP Weightlifting Association, here on Thursday.

The 18-year-old Rahul, who is in the senior national camp as part of preparations for the next month’s Asian Games, also bagged gold medals in the Youth Asian, Junior Asian and Junior Commonwealth championships.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – August 22nd, 2014