The Musi River Beautification Project boasts sweeping changes to Hyderabad, reminiscent of the grandiose graphics once seen for the Amaravathi project. However, the project’s true scope remains murky.
CM Revanth Reddy is showcasing ambitious plans for expressways, walkways, cycle tracks, parks, plazas, international-standard infrastructure, convention centers, and iconic structures on both sides of the river. The entire project, which spans 110 square kilometers, is framed as a transformative venture, but behind the glitzy presentations lie serious concerns about land acquisition and transparency.
During a recent meeting with public associations on October 4, it was revealed that the government plans to develop both sides of the Musi River within a one-kilometer radius. This includes land acquisition and rehabilitation, as stipulated under the Land Acquisition Act of 2013. The master plan for this project has been handed over to the Meinhardt Consortium of Singapore, a decision made despite an ongoing tender process and the omission of key details from public presentations.
Seven companies had initially qualified for the masterplan tender process, but only five submitted bids. However, behind closed doors, the selection process was narrowed down to just two—Lee Associates Consortium and Meinhardt Consortium. Although the government presented this to the public as a competitive process, it had already decided to award the contract to Meinhardt. A letter approving this decision was issued on the same day as the public meeting, but the government withheld this information during the presentation.
Concerns are further heightened by the fact that the consultancy agreement with Meinhardt extends for 66 months—well beyond the original 48-month plan—without a clear explanation. While Revanth Reddy has hinted at the demolition of 12,000 structures along the riverbanks, the official presentation lists 10,017 buildings in the riverbed and buffer zone. The project, originally estimated at Rs. 58,000 crores, has now ballooned to Rs. 1.5 lakh crores.
The government plans to finance this through loans from the World Bank, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and National Development Bank (NDB), but no concrete agreements have been confirmed. The lack of clarity on key issues—land acquisition, financing, and the scale of demolition—raises critical questions about the project’s long-term feasibility and the transparency of its execution.