The Telangana government has officially marked 10,017 properties covering 3,279 acres for acquisition under the Musi Riverfront Project, according to a recent government gazette notification. The massive infrastructure project has sparked controversy with opposition leaders questioning the procedural aspects and transparency of the initiative.
BRS leader Harish Rao has raised concerns that the project will affect nearly 1 lakh people. He questioned the government’s approach of issuing notices and deploying bulldozers without completing the Detailed Project Report. According to Harish Rao, the DPR will take 18 months to complete, yet authorities have already begun sending notices to poor residents in the affected areas.
A significant discrepancy has emerged regarding the project’s funding status. In a January 2026 Assembly reply, the government stated that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) had agreed to fund ₹4,100 crore ($500 million) for Phase-1 of the project. However, meeting minutes from an ADB meeting on January 23, 2026 indicate that no financing has been approved and no DPR has been submitted by the Musi River Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL).
Confusion surrounds the official buffer zone for the Musi River, with different figures being quoted by various authorities. Numbers ranging from 9 metres, 30 metres, 50 metres, and now 100 metres have been mentioned. Opposition leaders are demanding clarity on the scientific basis for the 100-metre buffer zone and whether any proper study has been conducted to determine this distance.
Questions have been raised about rehabilitation policies for displaced residents. While land is reportedly being promised to some displaced residents, such as those in Madhu Ridge Apartments, it remains unclear whether similar rehabilitation will be extended to residents of all 46 colonies located along the Musi River. The lack of uniform policy has created anxiety among affected communities.
The scope of demolitions has also come under scrutiny. Critics are questioning whether the government will also demolish public infrastructure such as metro stations, bus stands, sewage treatment plants (STPs), temples, churches, and other public structures located in the Musi catchment area. The selective approach to demolitions has raised concerns about fairness and consistency in implementation.
The Musi Riverfront Project is envisioned as a major urban development initiative aimed at rejuvenating the river and creating modern infrastructure along its banks. However, the project’s implementation has been marred by questions regarding proper planning, adequate funding arrangements, and fair rehabilitation measures for affected families.
BRS leader Harish Rao emphasized the need for transparency, asking, “What is the basis of buffer for 100 metres? Is there scientific study?” He also questioned the procedural aspects of the project, highlighting the contradiction between the government’s claims about ADB funding and the bank’s official meeting minutes that show no approved financing.
