Chief Minister Revanth Reddy unveiled the government’s comprehensive action plan on Thursday to rejuvenate the Musi River and its surrounding areas. Unveiling his grand vision the CM said the plan aims to “Bring the city to the river and to give the river back to the city.”
The plans are based on the i5 symphony model, that is, Innovative, Invigorate, Iconic, Inclusive and Integrated.
Innovative means the new economic pulse of Hyderabad and its agri-aqua hub, Invigorate is to use the timeless treasure of Hyderabad’s historic monuments, capitalising on its history and celebrating its roots, Iconic means crafting its landmarks, Inclusive as the riverfront that embraces its nature and community and Integrated means to take Hyderabad into a digital future and establishing a world-class smart city infrastructure and an integrated future-ready city that will have education, a healthcare and innovation hub, a environment exploration centre/sustainability learning hub, a media, entertainment and financial hub, eco residential townships, administrative and convention hub, and a recreational and ecological park.
‘Musi on the Move’ is buses across the riverfront with Purana Pul being transformed as Pyarana Pul, connecting Miralam to the Musi, the first landmark on the Musi–Hyderabad Central Park route.
Our Vision for the Musi River is to transform its riverfront into a world-class economic centre and job hub that respects our heritage and propels us into the future.
The CM outlined the government’s plan to transform Hyderabad into a global city and to address the difficult living conditions of those inhabiting the Musi catchment area.
“I suggest KTR, Harish and Eatala to live in the Musi area for three months. I will bear their expenses under the R&R package. If you can stay there for three months, I will cancel this Musi Project and all legal expenses of this tender will be borne by me,” the CM said.
“Musi is Musa meaning Moses and Esa is Yesu which originates at the Ramalingeshwar Temple in Anantagiri,” he said.
“By this Saturday, the BRS, the BJP and the AIMIM should give a timetable on what their action plan is and whether to execute the Musi Project or not,” he said.
Revanth emphasized that 33 teams have already visited the Musi River area to assess the challenges faced by its residents, many of whom live in appalling conditions.
“We are not just focusing on beautification but on improving the living standards of the poor who stay along the Musi,” he stated, stressing that the government has drawn up plans to provide livelihoods and rehabilitate those displaced by the project.
The CM also spoke about how former Prime Ministers Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajiv Gandhi and PV Narasimha Rao introduced revolutionary reforms that propelled the country forward. He dismissed criticism of their policies, attributing India’s success to the long-term vision set by these leaders.
He said the Musi Project is not a mere beautification attempt but a vital rejuvenation plan designed to address the environmental hazards posed by the river.
He assured the public that the around 1,600 families living on the Musi riverbed have been relocated to 2BHK houses, and 10,000 more households in the buffer zone will be rehabilitated as part of the government’s comprehensive plan.
Taking a dig at his critics, the CM compared the Musi revival project to efforts made for improving one’s appearance. “This is not like going to Dubai for a hair transplant to look good. This is about cleaning and revitalizing the Musi,” he said.
He also appealed to the leaders of the BRS, the BJP, the AIMIM and others to provide feedback and suggestions to ensure the project’s success.
The CM emphasised the importance of transparency and accountability in the project, revealing that a consortium of five companies have been selected to prepare a detailed project report (DPR) within 18 months. The total cost of the agreement with these firms is Rs 141 crore.
He dismissed allegations of financial mismanagement, stating that the project’s scale and transparency speak for themselves.
“The BRS is trying to create communal tension by linking Meinhardt to Pakistan. This consortium constructed the statue of unity among others,” the CM said.
He appealed for unity, requesting all party leaders to submit an action plan by Saturday. Referring to concerns raised by the opposition, Revanth urged the public to ignore the misinformation being spread through social media.
He also assured that a special Assembly session could be convened, if necessary, to discuss the Musi Project and ensure it addresses the needs of people effectively.
“Musi encroachment is more dangerous than the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki and is anti-national” the CM warned, underlining the gravity of the situation.
He concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to rehabilitating the displaced and improving the city’s infrastructure without causing undue hardships to the poor.
