29 new bridges proposed on Musi river in Hyderabad

The Musi river will have a total 46 bridges built over it by the year 2050, if the proposals mooted as part of the HMDA Master Plan 2050 are implemented in toto.

The Comprehensive Mobility Plan under preparation as precursor to the master plan of Hyderabad Metropolitan Region for 2050, has proposed 29 bridges on the Musi river. Already, a total 17 bridges exist on the river in the city limits.

Officials from the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority informed that all the 29 bridges are being proposed within the 55 kilometres of the river course planned for development under the Musi Riverfront Development Project, starting from the twin reservoirs of Gandipet and ending at Gowrelly village in Hayatnagar mandal of Ranga Reddy district. This will mean that the river will have a bridge almost every kilometre in the city, once the project is completed.

New bridges on the Musi river have been on the horizon for a while now. As part of the Musi development, the previous government led by Bharat Rashtra Samithi party had proposed 14 high level heritage bridges on the river, which include proposals for renovation and remodelling of the existing bridges. The structures were to come up at Chaderghat, Ibrahimbagh, Musarambagh, Afzalgunj, Uppal, Manchirevula, Hydershakote, Pratapsingaram, Bandlaguda Jagir, Sun City, Budvel and Attapur, while on bridge was proposed exclusively for hawkers displaced by the Charminar Pedestrianisation Project.

Proposals were invited for the bridge designs through a competition held for architects. A team of officials was sent to Paris to study the bridges on Seine river. Tenders were finalised and foundation was laid for six bridges ahead of elections on 2023, but after the regime change post election, the project was shelved, except for the Musarambagh bridge for which work had already begun after demolition of the existing bridge.

Officials informed that the CMP is in the final stages and could be unveiled next month. It is part of the three technical studies commissioned by HMDA in preparation for the Master Plan 2050, alongside the Economic Development Plan and Blue Green Infrastructure Plan.