Shops shut in protest as Telangana CM lays foundation stone for new Osmania General Hospital

Protest in Goshamahal against new Osmania General Hospital construction, shops closed, residents express concerns over impact.

The foundation stone laying ceremony of new Osmania General Hospital by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy was not without drama on Friday afternoon. Hours before the CM’s motorcade reached the venue, shopkeepers and warehouse owners in the area downed their shutters and called for a bandh. Goshamahal and Begum Bazaar which house large warehouses and godowns on the Malkunta road sees heavy traffic of cargo vehicles. Businessmen said they will be affected if the traffic in the area goes up.

Preparations for the event, including a stage and tent, had been made on Thursday. However, these arrangements were removed later, and the event was scaled down to just a Bhoomi Puja, avoiding any public speeches.

“Ever since the announcement, there have been several protests. Today, as a mark of protest, the shops have been closed. They might open in the evening,” said Ramesh, a tea stall owner near the stadium. Most of the closed shops were those involved in the sale of hardware, plywood and electrical items.

After the Chief Minister and other officials departed, a small group of protesters gathered outside the police stadium, holding placards reading ‘Goshamahal Bandh’ and chanting slogans such as ‘Osmania Hospital Nahi Chahiye’.

One of the protesters, Ram Shukla, voiced concerns about the impact of the hospital on the local community. “This stadium is used by residents for sports, physical activities and social gatherings. If the hospital is built here, all of that will be lost. The roads are already narrow, and an influx of patients will worsen traffic congestion, creating difficulties for residents,” he said.

Adding to the opposition, Goshamahal MLA Raja Singh released a video statement on Thursday, reiterating local concerns. “The area behind the stadium, called Chandanwadi, is home to many residents. If infectious diseases like COVID-19 spread in the future, treating patients here could put the neighbourhood at risk. Government hospital mortuaries are often in poor condition, and if the same happens here, it will cause more inconvenience,” he said. He urged the Chief Minister to reconsider the decision and address residents’ fears.