Hyderabad: The Telangana government has embarked on the ambitious project of crafting a comprehensive master plan for the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region 2050. This mega master plan, aiming to steer the region’s development over the next 25 years, focuses on three critical components: economic development, mobility, and blue & green infrastructure.
To achieve this, three consultants have been engaged, with their plans expected to be ready by December 2024. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced a few months ago that a master plan for the metropolitan region’s development would be prepared, marking a significant step towards structured urban planning. Currently, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) region lacks a cohesive master plan. While the previous government had initiated the integration of various master plans five years ago, the project was subsequently shelved. According to sources within the municipal administration department, the comprehensive master plan will incorporate mobility, economic development, and blue & green infrastructure plans along with other aspects. The Hyderabad metropolitan area is divided into three clusters: the area within the Outer Ring Road (ORR), the region extending from ORR to the Regional Ring Road (RRR), and the area beyond RRR, which predominantly consists of rural areas poised for future development within HMDA’s jurisdiction.
A pivotal component of the master plan is the Comprehensive Mobility Plan (CMP). This plan will identify and develop a mass transport system for the metropolitan region in a phased manner, including Metro rail, bus rapid transit systems, and enhanced rail and road networks. The previous government had prepared a transport system plan for HMDA in 2018 based on 2011 population data, incorporating 12 new Metro corridors. Given the significant development within the ORR and the upcoming RRR, a new mobility plan is essential to align with the National Urban Transport Policy. The CMP will address transportation infrastructure requirements up to 2050, segmented into long-term (2050), medium-term (2031-2040), and short-term (2024-2030) phases.
The Economic Development Plan (EDP) will be a comprehensive document identifying potential areas for economic growth and development. The government intends to allocate land for investment, industrial development, and infrastructure enhancement in a phased manner. Consultants will assess growth potential, industrial development opportunities, population dynamics, and investment prospects within the metropolitan area. Emphasising sustainable urban development, the state prioritises Blue & Green Infrastructure (BGI) plans as part of the master plan. Blue infrastructure refers to water bodies and tanks, while green infrastructure includes trees, parks, open spaces, and gardens. The master plan will map all blue and green elements using a GIS platform, identifying and earmarking current locations for preservation and development.
