Metro development authority set to replace HUDA

Special CorrespondentChief Minister directs officials to work out details such as powers of new body# Decision emerges from review meet chaired by YSR# Formal announcement likely soon# To begin with, the metropolitan area will be extended up to Outer Ring RoadHYDERABAD: The Government is proposing to constitute a higher city planning body, Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority replacing the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority to ensure proper growth of the twin cities and peripheral areas.A decision in this regard was taken at a review meeting on urban planning chaired by Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy at the Secretariat here on Monday. It was attended by Municipal Administration Minister K. Ranga Rao and top officials of the department. Dr. Reddy asked officials to work out details, including powers and functions to be allotted to the new body. The Government is expected to announce the constitution of the new body soon.`Special efforts needed'The meeting felt such a body was required as Hyderabad has become a mega city like Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai in terms of the extent of the area under its jurisdiction and population. "It needs special efforts to see that there is systematic growth and civic amenities are provided accordingly.Metropolitan development authorities have already been formed for Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata," Mr. Ranga Rao said. S. P. Singh, Principal Secretary, Municipal Adminitration, told The Hindu later that the under the proposal, assets of the HUDA, its establishments and staff would be shifted to the new body which would have more powers and functions in dealing with the "phenomenal growth" of the urban agglomeration.Initially, the plan was to extend the metropolitan area up to the Outer Ring Road presently under implementation.Mr. Singh said relevant legislations such as the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad Act and the Andhra Pradesh Municipalities Act would be amended suitably to facilitate the constitution of the "higher body."