Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Growth Corridor Development Plan to curb haphazard ribbon development, which had proposed 46 urban nodes and urban centres where satellite townships were to be developed around the Outer Ring Road, could not take off due to economic viability. Reasons like political dissension are also cited as a cause. Till date, barring the 8-lane expressway, only marginal urban development has taken place on either side of the ORR.
The Hyderabad Growth Corridor Development Plan was framed for special development regulation for areas falling under a 1-km belt on either side of the ORR. The study for Hyderabad Metropolitan Region had recommended transit-orientated development (TOD).
Thirteen growth centres along the ORR, at the interchanges of Metro, MMTS or road transport, had been proposed for development of transit-oriented growth centres to decongest the city. It was also proposed that other economic activities be encouraged along the 8-lane highway. However, that proposal still remains on paper.
A senior official working for the Outer Ring Road project said, “Economic viability and political dissensions hold back such city growth projects. When the planning body comes up with concepts like urban nodes and urban centres, for them to become a reality it would first need huge funding if not, to be taken on a private-partnership mode. That apart, the project needs to be thoroughly studied, reviewed, and consultants hired who will in turn analyse and submit a report. The entire process is time consuming.”
However, one of the proposed projects that has been initiated is the ecological park. With an area of 85 acre situated in Kothwalguda in two parts the first being on either side of the Outer Ring Road and the second part near the Himayatsagar lake in possession of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority, a massive ecological park is under construction.
