Telangana Prepares to Begin Musi River Rejuvenation, Phase One in April.

Telangana is set to kick off the first phase of its ambitious Musi River rejuvenation project in the first week of April, officials confirmed.

Phase I will focus on two stretches of the river: Osman Sagar to Bapu Ghat (11 km) and Himayat Sagar to Bapu Ghat (9 km). Around 200 acres near Bapu Ghat will be developed into Gandhi Sarovar, envisioned as a world-class experiential centre dedicated to promoting the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi.

The project had initially been scheduled to start in February, coinciding with the month when Gandhi’s ashes were immersed at Bapu Ghat — located at the confluence of the Musi and Esi rivers — in 1948. Preparatory work, however, delayed the launch. The government plans to invite Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to lay the foundation stone for the Gandhi Sarovar development.

The Musi Riverfront Development Corporation Limited (MRDCL) has completed the detailed project report and hydrological studies. Funding from the Asian Development Bank has received in-principle approval, to be released in phases.

Phase I infrastructure works will include trunk sewer lines, stormwater drains, water-retention structures, weirs, and barrages at select locations. Gandhi Sarovar will also feature a handloom promotion centre, exhibition spaces for local products, a meditation village, public recreation areas, and visitor ghats.

The Gandhi Sarovar project will require around 300 acres of land, of which 98 acres belong to the defence ministry, approximately 40 acres are private patta land, and the remainder is government land. Authorities have identified about 1,400 structures on the private land.

MRDCL Managing Director EV Narasimha Reddy said the corporation conducted a 100-year hydrological study of Musi river floods, noting a maximum flood discharge of 1.62 lakh cusecs. A 50-metre buffer zone has been established based on this data.

The 55-km Musi river stretch has been divided into five zones for rejuvenation. Phase I covers Zone 1 (Osman Sagar–Bapu Ghat and Himayat Sagar–Bapu Ghat). Zones 2, 3, and 4 cover Bapu Ghat to Nagole, while Zone 5 extends from Nagole to Gaurelli near the Outer Ring Road.

To prevent untreated sewage from entering the river, 62 sewage treatment plants (STPs) are planned along the 55-km stretch, with some already built during the previous government. Tertiary-treated water will be reused for landscaping, industrial purposes, and other applications. Additionally, about 2.5 tmcft of Godavari water will be diverted to maintain river levels.

Phase I will also include river cleaning, removal of vegetation and debris, riverbed profiling, flood-mitigation walls, slope stabilization, and road construction — a four-lane road on one bank and a two-lane road on the other.

The Gandhi Sarovar centerpiece will feature a 123-ft statue of Mahatma Gandhi, set to be the tallest in India, surpassing the current 72-ft statue in Bihar. Plans include a museum of national significance focused on Gandhi’s life and a knowledge hub to promote Gandhian ideals.

This phase marks the first tangible step in Telangana’s long-term effort to restore the Musi River, enhance urban infrastructure, and create a public space that blends environmental restoration with cultural heritage.