Title - ‘Make lake clean-up a priority’

HYDERABAD: Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday directed Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) to speed up the project to clean-up Hussainsagar and complete it on a war footing. He also told officials that all lakes in and around Hyderabad and in Rangareddy district had to be protected.These directives were made at an HMDA review meeting chaired by the CM. According to a news release, HMDA has proposed to take up eight new projects in the coming year at a cost of Rs 3,300 crore. The new projects would be taken up in the PPP mode.The CM also told HMDA to prioritize the work on the radial roads in the city with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) set to provide assistance in this area.he eight new projects include launch of the Clean Hussainsagar Campaign, Intelligence Transport System on Outer Ring Road, Transit-Oriented Development of metro stations, Integrated Commuter Terminal at Secunderabad railway station and the Musi Improvement Project.The Hussainsagar Lake & Catchment Area Improvement Project (HCIP) funded by JICA at Rs 370 crores will ensure the clean-up and restoration of the iconic lake. The main aim of the project is to maintain round-the-year water level in the lake at 513.4m and improve the water quality to SW2 standards of the Central Pollution Control Board.

According to HMDA, Hyderabad will be the first city in the country to implement the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for ORR and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Area. As regards the project for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), it is one that promotes a mixed-use of land for residential and commercial activities to minimize the need for transport and maximize access to public transport and often incorporates features to encourage transit ridership (metro/suburban). A TOD neighbourhood typically has a centre with a train/transit station, metro station or a high-capacity bus stop surrounded by relatively high-density development with progressively lower-density development spreading outwards from the centre.

On the Integrated Commuter Terminal, HMDA said there was a need for developing an Integrated Commuter Terminal at Secunderabad railway station and suggested it may develop the same within the Old Gandhi Hospital land allotted for a metro station.

The Integrated Commuter Terminal will have integrated interchange facilities i.e., inter-city train, MMTS, metro, bus, Intermediate Para Transit (taxis, autorickshaws), adequate parking facilities, etc..