Musi River Project’s Comprehensive Vision
Interview with the Special Chief Secretary of the Municipal Administration Department, Dana Kishore
The Musi River, flowing through the heart of Hyderabad, is more than just a water body; it’s a lifeline for the city. This historic river meanders its way through the bustling urban landscape, serving as a witness to centuries of history and culture.
Despite facing environmental challenges and pollution over the years, efforts are underway to rejuvenate and restore the Musi River to its former glory. The Musi Riverfront Development Project aims to transform its banks into vibrant spaces for recreation, culture, and commerce while also enhancing ecological sustainability.
The Special Chief Secretary of the Municipal Administration Department, Dana Kishore, said that strategic steps will be taken to restore 56 kilometres of Musi River and ponds in Hyderabad. Speaking to Real Estate Guru on Friday, he said that a few months ago, he met the authorities of the Port of London Authority and Dubai Waterfront to study trade links and investment patterns. In January 2024, a delegation led by the Honourable Chief Minister Revanth Reddy visited London and Dubai to investigate commercial connections and investment frameworks for the development of the Musi Riverfront. They engaged with officials from the Port of London Authority and Dubai Waterfront to explore potential collaborations and investment opportunities. He said that to prevent the pollution of the Musi River and to develop a clean environment up to 56 kilometres, through the organisation of MMRDC, they first proposed to study the possible hydrological problems in the Musi River. Many companies have been invited to prepare samples for this. Out of eight companies, seven have qualified. More about the development is in his words.
Why consulting firms…
What these seven consulting firms will do is study the hydrological pattern of the Musi river from Osmansagar in the west to Gowrelly in the east to formulate a comprehensive master plan for the development of the Musi riverfront. The maximum storage volume is estimated for every kilometre of overflow conditions, dry weather, and sewage flowing into the river through canals. Check dams are constructed at different places to check the water storage in the river. Besides preparing the simulation model for hydraulics, they also prepare the DPR for the construction of retaining walls along the Musi River. By taking planned steps like this, we will revive the Musi River.
Our plan…
Developing the Musi River is not a trivial matter. This is possible only by working at the field level. As part of this, we will first conduct a field survey to identify the properties and encroachments in the buffer zone of the Musi River. No development permits shall be granted within fifty metres of the river. Along with cleaning the Musi River, we want to develop cycle tracks, jogging tracks, basic amenities at the city level, a knowledge park, and eco-tourism. Recreational facilities and water pools will be developed. We will construct rubber dams in the Musi River and provide road connectivity. These include the construction of bridges, pedestrian zones, people’s plazas, heritage zones, green spaces, hawker zones, bridges, and development as recreational and tourist areas. There will be sports facilities, commercial spaces, and retail spaces. We will reduce the pollution in the Musi River and make it pleasant. The plan will also include a comprehensive strategy for integrating cultural heritage sites into the overall project plan, ensuring their enhanced protection and preservation.
With the help of district collectors and ACLBs, we are preparing strategic plans for the restoration of ponds in Hyderabad. We are drawing up plans to identify all ponds and manage their boundaries, FTL, buffer zones, inlets, and outlets. FTL boundaries of ponds are identified through geo-spatial imagery. In coordination with the Irrigation and Revenue Departments, we will take up the process of not only identifying the ownership of government and private lands but also identifying encroachments on the boundaries of the ponds. We will identify the modern technology required for the restoration of the ponds and provide it to the local urban institutions.
A comprehensive ground-level survey is underway to pinpoint properties and encroachments within the Musi River boundary, including its buffer zone. The government has allocated Rs. 1000 crores for the project in the vote-on-account budget for 2024–25.
Seven companies qualified to prepare samples include:
Arvee Associated Architects, Engineers, and Consultants Pvt. Ltd.
Wapcos Limited
Voyants Solutions Private Ltd
Tractebel Engineer Private Ltd
NSS Associates Consulting Engineers and Infra Private Ltd
Shah Technical Consultants Private Ltd
NK Buildcon Private Ltd.
More proposals invited:
The Musi River Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL) has extended invitations for proposals from consulting firms to offer their expertise in developing a simulation model for the hydraulic dynamics of the Musi River. This includes the preparation of a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for constructing retaining walls along the riverbanks.
Detailed Project Report will have:
The Detailed Project Report (DPR) will outline plans for the modernization of the Musi River, encompassing various aspects such as river revitalization, bank reinforcement, establishment of bicycle and jogging tracks, provision of city-wide essential services, creation of a knowledge park, promotion of eco-tourism, installation of recreational facilities including water pools with rubber dams, enhancement of road networks, construction of bridges and pedestrian zones, establishment of public squares and heritage sites, development of green spaces, designated areas for vendors, provision of sports amenities, parking facilities, commercial and retail zones, hospitality infrastructure, and implementation of a sewerage system to redirect dry weather flows to a centralized Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) to mitigate water pollution.
