Hyderabad: The dilapidated Saifabad Palace is set to be house the CMO after rennovations.

Though the building has been kept idle without any offices for nearly a decade, there are fears that the casualties will be more if the building collapses as hundreds of persons and vehicles pass near the structure in the middle of the Secretariat.

In 2008, it was estimated that it would require about Rs 8 crore to renovate the building.

Now the officials have revised the renovation cost at Rs 20 crore.

Mr Chandrasekhar Rao, who has been giving utmost importance to Nizam-era heritage structures by holding first Independence Day celebrations in Telangana at Golconda Fort recently and aligning the Metro Rail route to protect heritage markets in Sultan Bazaar and Mozoamjahi Market, is now keen to preserve the G-Block.

The building finds its place in one of the earliest cartographic maps of Hyderabad brought out in 1914-15.

Some of the unique architectural features include its classical European style with grand semi-circular arches, imposing arched portico, Corinthian columns and high ceiling.

The ornate staircase and a lift add to richness of the building.

