The Telangana government has launched an expansive and eco-conscious mission to rejuvenate the Musi River. The vision is bold yet essential to transform one of the city’s most polluted water bodies into a global exemplar of sustainable urban living.
Drawing inspiration from Gujarat’s Sabarmati Riverfront transformation, state officials are exploring ways to marry environmental stewardship with inclusive development. Senior officials overseeing the Musi Riverfront Development Project recently visited Ahmedabad to closely study the Sabarmati model, engaging with urban planners and development experts. Their goal: to understand the mechanisms behind the successful transformation of Sabarmati into a vibrant, accessible, and economically productive space. Hyderabad, known for its rapid urban sprawl and historical legacy, is now poised to embark on a similar journey—one rooted in climate responsibility and equity.
The Telangana administration has categorically stated that the Musi River will not remain a neglected urban drain. The rejuvenation effort is part of a larger commitment to sustainable urban development and net-zero emissions. A multi-phased plan, beginning with the stretch up to Bapu Ghat, is already in motion. The initial focus is to clean, decongest, and reimagine the river’s edge as a hub of community activity and eco-tourism, featuring green belts, cycling tracks, recreational zones, and cultural promenades. While drawing lessons from Sabarmati, officials stress that the Musi project will be tailored to local challenges—especially the high volume of untreated wastewater that flows into the river daily. Plans are underway for establishing decentralised sewage treatment plants to ensure only clean water enters the river. Ecological engineers and environmental scientists are involved in creating a system of check dams and wetland buffers to manage water quality and revive biodiversity along the banks.
To ensure the project is socially inclusive, housing and relocation strategies are being framed for the thousands of families currently residing in informal settlements along the river. These plans include the development of well-connected colonies complete with healthcare, education, and vocational training facilities. The aim is to transform the river from a divider of communities into a unifier that promotes equity and dignity in urban living. Urban development experts believe that the Musi Riverfront project could become a transformative case study in sustainable urbanism, especially if implemented with accountability and public participation. A delegation of municipal officers, corporators, and urban designers from Hyderabad is also scheduled to visit the Sabarmati Riverfront in the coming months. Their firsthand insights will feed into the planning matrix, enriching the city’s vision with tested, adaptable ideas.
Notably, the project has already received initial financial backing with allocations expected to scale significantly in the upcoming budget cycles. The city’s leadership has made it clear that political consensus and inter-departmental coordination are key to maintaining momentum. The Musi revitalisation is not just an infrastructure upgrade; it is an identity-defining project for Hyderabad in the climate era. Urban planners are optimistic that, if executed with sensitivity to environmental and social dynamics, the Musi Riverfront could emerge as a benchmark for Indian cities striving for net-zero emissions, water-sensitive urban design, and inclusive public spaces. The focus is not just on the river but on the people who live around it—and how their lives can be enhanced through better design, cleaner environments, and inclusive access to green infrastructure.
The journey to transform Musi from an ecological liability into a public asset is as symbolic as it is strategic. For Hyderabad, it could mark the beginning of a new chapter—one where the city embraces its rivers not just as water channels, but as cultural lifelines and engines of equitable growth.
Telangana Plans Musi Riverfront Inspired by Sabarmati
