A concerted endeavor to preserve the esteemed heritage site, Maqbara Saidani Ma Saheba, a grand mausoleum constructed around 1883 in honor of Nawab Abdul Haq Diler Jung’s mother Saidani-Ma near Tank Bund, is on track for completion this October.
Over the past year, intensive conservation efforts have been underway at the tomb, located across from the Sailing Club on Tank Bund. This extensive restoration initiative has been a collaborative undertaking between the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) and the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), renowned for its active engagement in reviving historical landmarks in Hyderabad.
Monday saw Arvind Kumar, the Special Chief Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD), along with CEO of AKTC and conservation architect Ratish Nanda, accompanied by HMDA officials, conducting an assessment at the Saidani-Ma tombs. Arvind Kumar noted, “We inspected the restoration works being taken up by HMDA and AKTC. The entire project is coming up beautifully and should be completed including the special lighting by early October.
Earlier in the year, the Special Chief Secretary had revealed plans for the restoration project of the Saidani-Ma tomb, a task that HMDA embarked upon in partnership with the Aga Khan Trust. The Saidani Ma tomb had fallen into disrepair due to years of neglect. Building on the success of prior restoration work such as the Bansilalpet step well, Murgi Chowk, and Sardar Mahal, the MA&UD department chose to advance the conservation of the tomb through collaborative efforts of HMDA and AKTC.
