Govt to develop infra projects around Hyd

The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is working on an investment plan for developing basic urban infrastructure in the growth corridor (areas within 1 km from either side of the Outer Ring Road) and the 12 urban nodes identified in the extended master plan cleared by the state government last week.

The investment plan broadly covers projects in water supply, electricity connectivity, sewerage and storm water drainage system, according to HMDA commissioner Neerabh Kumar Prasad. These projects would be taken up through different modes, some by the government, some under public-private partnership and some by private players depending on the feasibility and other factors, he said today.

The metropolitan development plan was unveiled for a planned development of close to 6,000 square km of extended HMDA area under the four districts starting from the designated growth corridor along the 162-km Outer Ring Road of the city. The plan is expected to support the urbanisation process till the total population in this area reaches 18.4 million by 2031.

The entire extended master plan area has been divided into 12 land use zones out of which 209 square km area has been exclusively earmarked for the manufacturing industry, 850 sq km as residential zone, 300 sq km of multiple use zone, 508 sq km of peri urban zone and 30 sq km of commercial zone among others. About 2,400 sq km, which accounts for 41 per cent of the total extended HMDA area, has been reserved as conversation zone where agriculture and related activities alone will be allowed, according to Prasad.

HMDA has also made a provision for four additional railway terminals by earmarking land with a condition that the railway authorities have to initiate action within three years. The master plan also includes new transport and logistic hubs.

Flexibility for integrated township projects
However, the zonal regulations will be relaxed in case of integrated township projects with a minimum size of 100 hectares if the layouts partly fall outside the residential zone, he said. To achieve planned development in the new areas, the HMDA would follow land pooling wherever necessary to provide better roads and amenities.

He said the authority was working on a computerised layout application system, which was being followed in cities like Mysore to eliminate delays in layout approvals. Efforts were also being made to integrated the master plan with the data comprising survey numbers of each land parcel, location and the designated land use for people to access the information online soon.