The process stretched over an year and involved circle-wise consultative public meetings to make it more transparent and citizen-friendly. The 2000-odd objections and suggestions, including those from the GHMC, were scrutinised. The HMDA submitted the final plan and the zoning regulations to the government on Monday for approval.

The highlights of the revised master plan for core HMDA area:

The master plan consolidates all earlier plans.

Multiple land use category introduced to permit any use except industries/polluting/hazardous uses.

Multiple use permitted with certain conditions in areas covered by 300 mt. belt/strip from proposed MRTS routes to encourage transit oriented development.

150 percent of TDR for area surrendered for road widening free of cost to local body.

Plot sub division permitted subject to minimum plot size of 50 sq. mtrs.

All notified heritage buildings and precincts earmarked in the master plan.

Heritage zones identified for architectural and façade control regulations.

All bus depots except Imlibun depot have been earmarked as multiple use zone.

Besides, 29 new roads, link roads, 10 flyovers, 14 new bridges along Musi and surplus nala, 7 RUBs, one ROB and 5 multipurpose parking lots are proposed.

“It marks the end of a journey and beginning of another. We will now be embarking on preparation of a master plan for the extended HUDA area”, said B.P. Acharya, Metropolitan Commissioner, HMDA.

Addressing the stakeholders consultative meeting on preparation of draft master plan for the extended area here on Monday, he said the last comprehensive exercise was done in 1975.

T.S. Appa Rao, Principal Secretary, MA&UD, asked the HMDA to integrate all the master plans. People were taking a keen interest in the development of Hyderabad and therefore there was need for investment from government and private sector.

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The extended area, he said, had lot of problems .There was no water supply and drainage system. The municipalities and gram panchyats had no network of sanitation and transport. Manikonda had emerged as a biggest village.

Inderjit Paul, director general, EPTRI, underscored the need for addressing the environmental concerns like solid waste management and climate change.

N.V.S. Reddy, Managing Director, Metro Rail Project, said the financial bids for the project would be opened on July 14, the concessional agreement would be signed in August and the work would commence in December. The project would be completed in next five years. The ORR was half ready and would be completed by 2012.

“Once ORR and Metro Rail are ready Hyderabad will be in a position to attract major investments”, Mr. Reddy said.

Utpal Sharma, chief consultant from CEPT University, gave an insight into the master plan for extended HUDA area. The main objective was to channelise development in a phased and planned manner. The HMDA population was estimated to touch 1.8 crore by 2031 necessitating creation of multiple nucleus centres.

The extended area comprises 635 settlements, including 26 uninhabited villages and seven urban settlements. The extended area is mainly rural with a population of 13.38 lakh. It spread over an area of 4920.53 sq. km.

The key features of proposed extended HUDA area master plan are as follows

Creation of compact city to achieve sustainable development.

Multiple centres to reduce pressure on core city area.

Transit-oriented development along major movement corridors.

Integration of peripheral areas with core and intermediate areas.

Protection of environmentally sensitive and fertile agriculture land from urban development pressures.

Creation of an urban agriculture zone around the proposed urban area.

Provision of proper connectivity.

Second order urban settlements having potential to grow proposed.

Provision of urban amenities and employment opportunities in surrounding rural areas to check migration.

Creation of multi model transport hubs around the new stations and integrated freight terminals proposed by South Central Railway.