Hyderabad is on the brink of a dramatic transformation that could catapult it into the elite league of the world's top 20 most populous cities. This seismic shift is expected from the proposed merger of 27 surrounding municipalities with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC). According to United Nations norms, this expansion would officially designate Hyderabad as a global megacity by pushing its population far beyond the one-crore mark.
From 37th to 18th: A Meteoric Rise in Global Rankings
The latest 'World Urbanisation Prospects 2025' report from the UN's Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) provides a clear snapshot of Hyderabad's current trajectory. It estimates the city's population will reach approximately 91 lakh by 2025, placing it at the 37th position globally. However, the proposed GHMC expansion is a game-changer. If the merger proceeds, Hyderabad's population would skyrocket to nearly 1.5 crore.
This leap would propel the city to the 18th spot in the world's most populous city rankings, surpassing global powerhouses like London and New York. Hyderabad would find itself positioned just behind Beijing and Mexico City, cementing its status as one of the planet's fastest-growing urban agglomerations. The UN's 2025 estimates are derived from sophisticated remote sensing data and population grids developed by the European Union's Joint Research Centre, utilizing the Global Human Settlement Layer.
Within the Indian context, Hyderabad is currently the sixth-largest city, following Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The merger is projected to lift it two places, ahead of both Bengaluru and Chennai. The UN report underscores Hyderabad's rapid pace, noting the city added 27 lakh people between 2000 and 2025, with an annual growth rate of 1.48%—among the highest for major Indian cities.
Infrastructure Under Siege: The Flip Side of Expansion
While the demographic milestone brings prestige, urban planners and experts are sounding the alarm on the immense strain it will place on civic infrastructure. They warn that the expanded city will require massive, immediate upgrades across all essential services to sustain its new size and population.
Key areas of concern include:
- Road networks and public transportation
- Drainage systems and drinking water supply
- Healthcare facilities and solid waste management
Experts are particularly worried about waste management. Currently, Hyderabad generates between 8,000 to 9,000 tonnes of garbage daily, with only about 50% being recycled. The remainder ends up in landfills, adding unsustainable pressure on sites like the Jawahar Nagar dumpyard.
A senior urban planner from the city emphasized the urgency: "With additional municipalities joining GHMC, waste generation is expected to rise significantly. We must urgently establish more recycling centres, decentralised processing facilities, and formalised segregation systems to avert a future sanitation crisis." The official added that water supply networks must be extended to all areas up to the Outer Ring Road (ORR), and comprehensive sewerage lines need to be laid across the newly merged zones.
Public Transportation: The Defining Challenge
Mobility emerges as one of the most critical challenges for the expanded Hyderabad. TS Reddy, a retired official from the Central Road Research Institute and a transport planning expert, stressed that the government must prioritize mobility in the new master plan for the enlarged GHMC.
"Mass public transport has to become the backbone of the metropolitan region—not an afterthought," Reddy stated. "Without a major push for metro rail expansion, enhanced MMTS services, and seamless intercity bus connectivity, the city will face mounting congestion, longer commute times, and rising pollution levels."
He advocated for a fully integrated transport system within the upcoming master plan. This system should seamlessly combine the Metro, MMTS, RTC buses, intercity services, cycling networks, and footpaths to create a unified and efficient mobility grid capable of supporting a population exceeding one crore.
As Hyderabad stands at the crossroads of this historic expansion, the focus must balance ambitious growth with sustainable and inclusive urban planning. The city's journey to becoming a global megacity will be defined by how well it prepares for the immense infrastructural and logistical demands of its newfound scale.
