The All 'New Hyderabad' In A 'New Avatar'

Two significant developments, though apparently unrelated, in the last fortnight bring to the fore the shape of things to come in Hyderabad metropolitan area. The approval of the Metropolitan Development Plan-2031 for Hyderabad Metropolitan Region by the state government and the publication of final electoral rolls for GHMC by the Election Commission point to the far-reaching developmental and demographic changes that are taking place in the state capital and environs. Suffice to say that Hyderabad is poised to lose its old distinctive features and acquire a new avatar altogether. 
    

The government issued a GO Ms. 33, dated January 24, 2013, approving the Metropolitan Development Plan 2031, along with the Land Use Zoning and Development Promotion Regulations for Hyderabad Metropolitan Region. The new plan covers 5,965 sq kms which include extended area of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) of 5,018 sq kms. The master plan effects modifications in the master plans earlier notified for Outer Ring Road Growth Corridor (330 sq kms), erstwhile Huda area outside ORRGC (432 sq kms), Hyderabad Airport Development Authority (185 sq kms), Bhongir and Sangareddy towns. 
    
Now, the HMDA has in place a comprehensive Metropolitan Development Plan for the entire 7,228 sq km area, comprising 55 mandals (849 villages) spread over five districts, namely, Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Medak, Nalgonda and Mahbubnagar. The Plan is notified for a time period up to 2031, by which time the population of HMDA area is expected to reach 184 lakh with a workforce of 65 lakh, keeping in view the present trends of developments. The present population in HMDA area is about one crore, as per 2011 census. 

Hyderabad’s urban sprawl is slated to take a leap into the hitherto rural and semi-urban hinterland, which includes towns like Shamshabad, Sangareddy, Bhongir and Shadnagar. This is expected to give a boost to the economy of the region and also contribute to a sharp increase in population partly due to natural growth but largely owing to the mass migration from other regions and states. Needless to say, most of the migrants are expected, not from Telangana hinterland but mostly from Seemandhra regions. And, this is likely to irretrievably change the demographic profile of Hyderabad metropolitan region for ever. 

Already, Hyderabad is home to lakhs of migrants from all over the country and more so from other regions of the state. The population explosion in Hyderabad and its neighbouring districts is getting reflected in the sharp increase in the voter strength in GHMC and adjoining areas. HMDA area consists of 34 Assembly seats and seven Lok Sabha constituencies, including parts of Mahbubnagar and Bhongir parliamentary constituencies. Within the HMDA, the GHMC area comprises 24 Assembly constituencies and five Lok Sabha constituencies, including 15 Assembly seats in Hyderabad, eight in Rangareddy and one in Medak district. Ten Assembly segments and two Lok Sabha constituencies form part of HMDA area outside GHMC limits. 

There has been a phenomenal increase in the electorate in these constituencies ever since they were demarcated in 2008 on the basis of 2001 census by the Delimitation Commission of India. While Hyderabad district (15 Assembly segments) accounts for an electorate of 31.59 lakhs, the 14 Assembly segments in Rangareddy district have voter strength of 42.59 lakh as per the special summary revision of electoral rolls 2013, published on 15.01.2013. There is a spurt in voters’ strength in Assembly constituencies forming part of HMDA in neighbouring Medak, Mahbubnagar and Nalgonda districts as well. 

    Some of these constituencies have the highest voter strength in the state. LB Nagar leads the pack with 4,42,704 voters, followed closely by Serilingampally (4,26,124), Qutubullahpur (4,24,236), Kukatpally (4,03,290), Malkajgiri (3,77,428), Uppal (3,36,762), Medchal (3,35,019), Maheswaram (3,01,131) and Rajendranagar (2,85,201). None of the 15 constituencies in Hyderabad has as many voters as these segments in Rangareddy district. Jubilee Hills has the highest electorate in Hyderabad with 2,41,168 voters. The burgeoning electoral rolls in HMDA/ GHMC area are only indicative of the massive migration into this area. The trend seems non-stoppable, altering the demographic profile irreversibly and reducing the natives to a minority in their city of birth.