HYDERABAD: Telangana is set to become one of the few States in the country where the urban population exceeds rural count. Urban population in cities and towns of the State will increase by 50 per cent in the next five years (2018-2023), said MAUD Minister KT Rama Rao on Wednesday, adding that currently, 44 per cent of Telangana’s population resides in urban areas.
“In five years from now, more than 50 per cent of the State’s population will be living in urban areas. Hence, it’s imperative that advance planning is done to meet the potential infrastructure challenges that could arise,” the minister said while presenting MAUD department’s annual report for 2017-18 and the action plan for 2018-19.
He said a detailed plan is being made to ensure seamless traffic movement in the city, apart from other measures like better road connectivity, improved underground drainage systems and a drinking water grid to enable continuous water supply across Hyderabad. He also said that a regional ring road was being planned beyond the outer ring road.
“As Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had announced, nearly Rs 50,000 crore will be spent on urban development, with a special focus on turning Hyderabad into a global city in the next three years,” KTR said. The proposed investment is not without reason. Hyderabad alone contributes nearly half (45-50 per cent) of the State’s gross domestic product.
KTR said his government was also planning to introduce an integrated township policy to decongest the city and promote the ‘walk to work’ concept. “Feasibility studies are underway to prepare a comprehensive master plan for all Urban Local Bodies. The detailed project report for the same would be ready by May 2019,” he said.
The minister added that starting August this year, gram panchayats that have acquired urban characteristics would become ULBs. So, the number of urban local bodies are likely to go up from the present 74 to 146.
Operationalising Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA), proposed Airport Metro Express, Comprehensive River Front Development of Musi, and establishing new satellite townships and are some of the initiatives planned during 2018-19, he said.