The Telangana government has focused on the Musi River rejuvenation project within the limits of Hyderabad. The Revanth government has taken steps to curb illegal constructions along the Musa and Esi rivers. In this regard, strict regulations have been implemented by issuing orders concerning the Musi Riverfront Development Authority. It has issued orders prohibiting any constructions within a 50-meter buffer zone along the Musa and Esi rivers. Additionally, restrictions have been imposed on constructions within 50 to 100 meters from the Musi river. Until the comprehensive master plan for the Musa and Esi rivers is approved or a committee comprising DCP, GHMC, HMDA, and MRDCL officials grants approval, no new constructions will be permitted within the 50 to 100-meter range. Even for constructing roads and bridges for public facilities within 100 meters, approval from this committee is mandatory, as specified in the orders.
The state government, determined to develop the Musi River catchment area to international standards, is preparing a comprehensive plan for the same. With the government becoming aware of illegal constructions taking place along the Musi river and within the buffer zone, officials are stating that strict regulations will be enforced. A special committee appointed by the Telangana government will oversee the prevention of illegal constructions along the Musa and Esi rivers. Following government orders, a committee comprising senior officials from various departments has recommended the need for regulation of constructions along the Musa and Esi rivers. As a result, Municipal Administration Secretary Dana Kishore has issued these orders and directed the MD of the Musi River Front Development Corporation to take appropriate action.
At the same time, the government has started preparations for the restoration works of the Musi River over a stretch of 55 kilometres within the Greater Hyderabad limits. Plans are being prepared to develop the Musi riverfront with a focus on environmental conservation and promoting tourism. The Telangana government has decided to undertake development works at Bapu Ghat under the name Gandhi Sagar, funded by approximately Rs 4,000 crore from the World Bank. Proposals are being prepared by officials for the construction of 17 new flyovers over the Musi River. The government is also taking steps towards developing a metro rail route along the Musi Riverfront.
Officials who are already working on preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Musi River development are also planning and implementing measures to assist the displaced people along the Musi River. The government has ordered officials to provide double-bedroom houses to the displaced people of Musi and financial assistance of Rs 25,000 per family to ensure that their livelihoods are not affected. The government has planned to transform the city by carrying out Musi River rejuvenation in Greater Hyderabad. The goal is to transform the once-polluted Musi River into a clean waterway, similar to the Thames River. Ministers, along with Greater Hyderabad representatives, visited Seoul, South Korea, and studied the measures taken for the rejuvenation of the city’s river. The government aims to adopt similar steps to restore the Musi River.
Officials have decided to demolish illegal constructions from Narsingi to Nagole along the Musi River. Revenue, Irrigation, and other concerned authorities have identified illegal structures that have encroached into the Musi River’s basin in the districts of Rangareddy, Hyderabad, and Medchal-Malkajgiri. These structures have been marked, and double-bedroom houses have been allocated to the affected families. As a result, some families have already shifted to the newly allotted double-bedroom houses. In certain areas, people raised concerns about their livelihoods being impacted by the demolitions, which the authorities addressed by allocating funds for their assistance. The government has decided to provide aid to approximately 15,000 families in the Musi catchment area. It has been decided to provide financial assistance of Rs 25,000 to each family, and a total of Rs 37 crore have been transferred to the collectors of the three districts for this purpose.
Officials, recognising the challenges of undertaking the Musi River development work all at once from start to finish, have planned to carry out the work in phases. In the first phase, development activities will be initiated in areas like Narsingi, Langerhouz, and Bapughat. These areas have ample vacant land, which facilitates faster beautification work. With the 1,500 crore rupees allocated earlier for the Musi River Development Corporation, authorities are aiming to focus on development in every available area along the river, including the right-of-way. The officials are preparing to kick off the Musi River development work soon.
The Telangana government plans to rejuvenate and beautify the Musi River with an estimated cost of around Rs 25,000 crore. As part of this, plans have been made to divert Godavari river water into the Musi River. Furthermore, the government is considering the establishment of a road and metro rail corridor along the Musi river. Preliminary estimates by metro rail authorities suggest that the construction of the metro rail along the river could cost up to Rs 9,000 crore. There is a possibility to have a 25-kilometer stretch of the metro rail along the 55-kilometer corridor, and the government has been informed that this is feasible after a detailed study. The Musi Riverfront development is proposed to cover areas from Narsingi on the ORR (Outer Ring Road), Bapughat, High Court, Chaderghat, Nagole, and extending towards the eastern parts of Hyderabad along the ORR.
To reduce travel distance between the two sides of the Outer Ring Road (ORR), which currently requires nearly 80 kilometers of travel, a new road route within the city has been proposed. The idea is to not only beautify the Musi River but also build a road. Additionally, it seems the government is considering the construction of a metro rail route along this new pathway. The government has proposed that the metro could go along a land route after Nagole for some distance, as per suggestions from the HMR (Hyderabad Metro Rail) authorities. This approach is being considered for locations with high elevations, where the metro can be constructed accordingly. The authorities are also studying alternative routes that could help reduce the construction costs.
The Telangana government is planning to create a continuous water flow in the Musi Riverbed with roads and metro facilities alongside it, while also making boat rides accessible to the residents of the city. As part of this plan, water from the Krishna and Godavari rivers will be transferred to twin reservoirs, from where it will be released into the Musi River for cleaning. Elevated areas along the river will be assessed, and suitable locations will have check dams constructed at intervals of about five kilometres to ensure that the river maintains water throughout the year. This initiative will encourage both tourism and transportation via boating, allowing people to travel from one bank of the river to another by boat.
Additionally, the government is advancing with well-planned development projects for parks, hotels, multiplexes, and shopping malls around the Musi River area, further enhancing the attractiveness and utility of the space. The Revant government is moving forward with these projects to transform the region into a vibrant and modern space for both locals and tourists.
