Historic James Street Police Station Set to Become History, To Be Demolished on Friday Night

Historic Ramgopalpet Police Station, which for many decades defined the urban aesthetic quotient of bustling Mahatma Gandhi Road (formerly James Street), will pass into history on Friday evening.

The clock was gifted in 1900 by Diwan Bahadur Ramgopal Seth, a Rajasthani financial trader who made it big in Hyderabad. The area is named after the trader as Ramgopalpet and is still a hub of trade and business.

With the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) officials serving a notice to the police to vacate the building as the iconic structure is no longer habitable, the police officials have hurriedly vacated the premises on Friday afternoon. Minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav too inspected the dilapidated building and found that the paster and the roof are peeling off.

The building, already dilapidated, suffered heavily due to the incessant rains lashing the city for the past four days.

Ramgopalpet police station was among the oldest buildings in the city and has been declared a heritage sight in 1998. It was at one time the tallest building on the street. Built by the Britishers, it also has a clock tower.

The clock was gifted in 1900 by Diwan Bahadur Ramgopal Seth, a Rajasthani financial trader who made it big in Hyderabad. The area is named after the trader as Ramgopalpet and is still a hub of trade and business. Bustling Ranigung and heart-shaped Hussain Sagar are under its jurisdiction.

Diwan Bahadur Ramgopal Seth launched the famed but now defunct DBR mills and his statue still lies near the Paradise Hotel.