The Telangana government will develop its mega urban project, Future City, as India’s first city with Net-Zero carbon emissions through sustainable urbanisation, Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka said on Wednesday, March 19.
The Future City is planned to be developed near Hyderabad over an area of 765 square kilometres spanning 56 villages between the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar highways, by the Future City Development Authority (FCDA).
An amount of Rs 17,677 crore has been allocated for the Municipal Administration and Urban Development Department in Telangana’s Budget for 2025-26.
As announced earlier, the Future City will include an ‘AI City’ spread across 200 acres, featuring “data centers, high-performance computing facilities, specialised educational programs, a public awareness center, and a dedicated AI University,” the Minister said in his Budget speech.
Google has already committed to establishing an AI-powered Accelerator Center within this upcoming AI City, the Minister said.
The Future City will also have state-of-the-art Sports Hub with 12 specialized sports academies, a Sports Science Center, and a Sports Medicine Center, ensuring “holistic athlete development on par with global standards”, Bhatti Vikramarka said in his speech.
"Designed to rival the world’s top cities, this eco-friendly, ultra-modern metropolis will feature state-of-the-art infrastructure, cutting-edge technology, and a pollution-free environment," Bhatti Vikramarka said in his speech while presenting the state budget for 2025-26 in the Assembly.
The Finance Minister said that with Hyderabad experiencing rapid growth, the government was implementing the Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure (H-CITI) plan to strengthen urban infrastructure and efficiently manage increasing traffic congestion. "As part of the first phase, we have initiated the construction of 31 flyovers, 17 underpasses and 10 road expansion projects with an estimated investment of Rs 7,032 crore. Additionally, beautification projects worth Rs 150 crore are in progress,” he said.
Satellite townships with affordable housing communities will be developed around Hyderabad along the Outer Ring Road (ORR) to make homeownership more accessible for low-income and middle-class families, he said.
He also said that in Hyderabad, a Rs 5,942 crore Integrated Stormwater Drainage Project has been approved to enhance flood management and prevent waterlogging.
The Minister stated that Telangana is witnessing the fastest urbanisation in the country, driven by the rapid expansion of IT industries, infrastructure development, and transformative government initiatives.
In addition to Hyderabad, the government is actively developing tier-two cities such as Warangal, Nizamabad, and Khammam. Warangal is being established as a hub for education, healthcare, and IT, while Nizamabad and Khammam are being transformed into key centres for agriculture-based industries and manufacturing, he said.
Vikramarka said the government commenced the construction of four sewage treatment plants (STPs) with a total capacity of 20 MLD at Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs, ensuring efficient wastewater treatment and improved water quality.
"Additionally, under the Musi Riverfront Development Project, we are revitalising the Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs by replenishing them with Godavari water through the Godavari Drinking Water Supply Scheme. This initiative aims to restore the ecological balance of these reservoirs while securing a sustainable water supply for the future," he said.
He claimed that for the first time in decades, the Water Board has launched an extensive desilting and cleaning initiative to restore neglected manholes and sewer lines. As part of this effort, 3,025 km of sewer lines have been cleaned, and 2.39 lakh manholes have been de-silted. This large-scale operation has led to a more than 25% reduction in sewerage-related complaints, significantly improving urban sanitation, drainage efficiency, and public health, he added.
(With IANS inputs)