Hyderabad: Historic Ramgopalpet Police Station gets makeover

The heritage structure, also known as James Street Police Station, completes 125 years this year

Hyderabad: The two-storey building with a clock tower atop on MG Road in Secunderabad is now gearing up to resume duties for Ramgopalpet Police Station. A heritage structure, an example of Hyderabad’s Art Deco architecture, it completes 125 years this year.

The building which houses Ramgopalpet Police Station, also known as James Street Police Station, which was in a dilapidated condition has been restored and given a heritage facelift. The police station meanwhile is functioning temporarily from a revenue building on the Minister Road near Begumpet.

The exterior and interior of the building made of lime and mortar have been painted in cream colour. The second floor of the building has wooden flooring. On the ground floor, there are two prisoners’ detention rooms and two main halls.

Around 1900, Seth Ram Gopal Malani had donated money to build the police station and also the clocks that still tick on right time on the tower.

City-based Anuradha Reddy said in 2016, the entire James Street Police Station received heritage recognition by INTACH Hyderabad Heritage Award. Harikishan Malani, one of the descendants of Seth Ram Gopal, received the award in a programme. An antique brass-made bell from Nizam era weighing around 240 kg is presently kept in safety and sealed, she said.

Ramgopalpet Police Station Sub-Inspector (Administration) N Narsing Rao said the facelift of the building was completed and soon, the police station would be shifted back to this historic building.

Except for patch works like water connections and other basic amenities, main works such as painting and repairing the clocks was completed. CCTVs have already been installed covering all the corners of the building. “It is a heritage building that keeps the interior cool and breezy during the scorching summer,” he said.