Kiran Kumar Reddy clears Hyderabad projects despite city's disputed status

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) plans to develop major projects worth several crores of rupees around Hyderabad, though there is an ongoing dispute over the city's status after the proposed bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

The AP government has also approved the 'Metropolitan Development Plan 2031' which aims to take up several development works in an area of over 5985 square kilometres, spread over four districts surrounding Hyderabad.

A high-level HMDA meeting chaired by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy approved the development of the Hyderabad Habitat Centre (HHC) on Tuesday, on the lines of India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, at a cost of Rs 134 crore.

The HHC will be developed on a 11-acre site at Khanamet, outside Hyderabad city, with a visual arts gallery, sculpture courts, artiplex theatres, learning centres, convention facilities, theme parks, landscape gardens, open air theatre and food courts, a press release from the Chief Minister's Office said.

An exclusive society will be constituted to develop, implement and manage the project, for which a detailed project report is being prepared.

The second major project proposed is the Science City on 83 acres of land at Budvel, at a cost of Rs 160 crore, which would host a space station, earth pavilion, an energy park, Imax 9D Virtual Reality, futuristic technologies and centres of excellence.

An exclusive society will be formed to develop and manage the project and a feasibility report is being prepared.

Next in line is the Hyderabad Education Hub at Jawaharnagar on the outskirts of the city, which would have complete ecology and infrastructure for education, with focus on world-class graduate and post-graduate education.

The release said that world-class infrastructure for sports, medical and recreational facilities besides research and development centres would be developed at the hub.

"High quality higher educational institutions will be invited to set up satellite campuses at the hub. The institutions only need to build campuses specific to their needs, while the HMDA will develop common infrastructure through a public-private partnership," the release said.

The HMDA also secured nod to develop an Eco Park at Kothwalguda on an 85-acre land, at a cost of Rs 60 crore, which would have a garden with rare and endangered species among other facilities.

The meeting chaired by the AP CM also approved 'Metropolitan Development Plan-2031' for the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region.

Out of the total HMDA area of 7257 square kilometres, the plan would cover 5985 square kilometres in 35 mandals of four districts around Hyderabad.

The HMDA area is projected to have a population of 1.84 crore by the year 2031.