Hyderabad Burj clock stops within months of inauguration

The clock atop the newly built Burj at Masab Tank in Hyderabad has stopped working less than a year after its inauguration on December 31, 2025. The three-faced clock was built to mark 157 years of municipal administration in Hyderabad, which began in 1869. Designed as a modern interpretation of Deccan bastions, the octagonal structure uses natural lime mortar and compressed earth blocks. The adjoining giant pearl represents Hyderabad's identity as the City of Pearls.

Mir Khan, founder of Deccan Terrain Heritage which designed the project, said the structure was handed over to the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) before January 1, 2026, without a maintenance contract. He said the clock needs regular electricity, water, cleaning and upkeep, and these responsibilities now lie with GHMC and power utilities. Commuters have expressed disappointment, with one calling the stopped clock a waste of money. GHMC Commissioner RV Karnan told New Indian Express that efforts are underway to address the issue.