Hyderabad, December 27: The historic Mecca Masjid is likely to get a facelift. A Jeddahbased company has volunteered to renovate the structure located in the Old City.
Representatives of Fak and Partners Company Investors contacted Minister for Minorities Mohammed Ahmadulla Syed recently and conveyed their intention to take up renovation works of the masjid.
As the structure is a State monument, the government has asked the Archaeology and Museums department to examine the proposal.
“We are seriously considering the proposal and a decision will be taken shortly,” Archaeology and Museums director P Chenna Reddy told Expresso.
The company plans to construct on the masjid new minars which would be the tallest in the country. It also proposes two new domes on the top of the masjid, walkway from the Unani hospital to the masjid, installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor the entire premises, special sound system, vitrified tile flooring for namaz area and 25 new washrooms for men and women besides a Turkish-style ceiling.
“They have also proposed to make the Azaan (an announcement before the prayer time) on FM radio channels,’’ a senior official said.
The company also intends to maintain the masjid premises for 11 years. “This includes even payment of salaries to security guards and other maintenance staff,’’ the official said.
The Archaeology and Museums department, it is learnt, is willing to give its nod for the proposal with a condition that the company has to abide by the Indian rules and regulations.
“We can’t allow the firm to take up works as they wish as the structure is a historic one,’’ an official said.
The Archaeology department had earlier done some repairs to the portions of the mosque damaged in the bomb blast. The historic Mecca Masjid is likely to get a facelift. A Jeddahbased company has volunteered to renovate the structure located in the Old City.
Representatives of Fak and Partners Company Investors contacted Minister for Minorities Mohammed Ahmadulla Syed recently and conveyed their intention to take up renovation works of the masjid.
As the structure is a State monument, the government has asked the Archaeology and Museums department to examine the proposal.
“We are seriously considering the proposal and a decision will be taken shortly,” Archaeology and Museums director P Chenna Reddy told Expresso.
The company plans to construct on the masjid new minars which would be the tallest in the country. It also proposes two new domes on the top of the masjid, walkway from the Unani hospital to the masjid, installation of closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras to monitor the entire premises, special sound system, vitrified tile flooring for namaz area and 25 new washrooms for men and women besides a Turkish-style ceiling.
“They have also proposed to make the Azaan (an announcement before the prayer time) on FM radio channels,’’ a senior official said.
The company also intends to maintain the masjid premises for 11 years. “This includes even payment of salaries to security guards and other maintenance staff,’’ the official said.
The Archaeology and Museums department, it is learnt, is willing to give its nod for the proposal with a condition that the company has to abide by the Indian rules and regulations.
“We can’t allow the firm to take up works as they wish as the structure is a historic one,’’ an official said.
The Archaeology department had earlier done some repairs to the portions of the mosque damaged in the bomb blast.
——Agencies