Rare 1920s Petrol Pump Discovered Inside Hyderabad’s KBR National Park

A remarkable piece of forgotten history has been uncovered deep inside Hyderabad’s KBR National Park. Hidden under dense overgrowth within the former Chiran Palace estate, a mechanised petrol dispensing unit believed to date back to the late 1920s or early 1930s has been discovered.

The machine, though rusting with time, remains largely intact. Its dial, gears, and internal chambers are still visible, offering a rare glimpse into early fuel technology. The badge on the unit reads “Beckmeter,” a globally used fuel metering system during the interwar period.

Experts suggest that its enclosed dial mechanism and internal structure place it in the same era as Mumbai’s 1928 petrol pump, widely regarded as India’s first documented public fuel station. While Mumbai’s installation holds the title for public infrastructure, this discovery hints that Hyderabad may have had advanced private fuel systems within the Nizam’s estate at the same time.

The finding not only adds a new dimension to India’s automotive and industrial history but also raises urgent calls for preservation. Buried in silence for decades, this relic could now reshape our understanding of early fuel infrastructure in the country.