The Telangana government has taken a significant step forward in realizing its vision for the Bharat Future City (BFC) by appointing Singapore-based DP Architects as the consultant tasked with preparing the master plan for the Future City Development Authority (FCDA). This decision marks a crucial milestone in the development of what is expected to be a transformative urban and industrial hub for the state.
Selection Process and Timeline
Among the six firms that submitted bids for the prestigious project, DP Architects emerged as the lowest bidder. The official letter of award will be handed over during the inauguration ceremony of the BFC office at Meerkhanpet, scheduled for June 10, as confirmed by official sources. The consultant has been given a nine-month deadline to complete the comprehensive master plan, which will serve as the blueprint for the region's future development.
Scope of the Master Plan
The FCDA covers an expansive area of nearly 765 square kilometers. In the immediate term, the authority will focus on approximately 30,000 acres for land use identification and infrastructure creation. Of this, about 13,000 acres have been earmarked for priority development, according to sources. The master plan will address the diverse needs of the region, including residential, industrial, and commercial zones.
Priority Development Zones
The priority development areas have been allocated to several key sectors, reflecting the state's strategic economic goals. These include:
- Life Sciences Hub: 4,000 acres
- Electric Vehicle and Energy Park: 1,976 acres
- Electronics and Advanced Manufacturing Zone: 2,177 acres
- Residential Zone: 2,477 acres
- Data Centre Hub: 313 acres
- Education and University Zone: 255 acres
- AI City: 403 acres
- Health City: 594 acres
Preliminary proposals have also identified land for an entertainment zone, furniture park, and sports hub, officials added, indicating a holistic approach to urban development that balances economic growth with quality of life.
Addressing Planning Gaps
Explaining the necessity of the master plan, a senior FCDA official highlighted that the authority's jurisdiction lies between two major planning regimes. The northern part of the FCDA area falls under the HMDA Master Plan 2031, which already has a defined regional structure of corridors, transport networks, and metropolitan centres. The central part, which includes the Hyderabad Pharma City land, is being developed as a flagship industrial centre focused on life sciences, electronics, and advanced manufacturing. In contrast, the southern part of the FCDA area is predominantly rural and lacks any statutory land use plan.
Without a statutory plan, officials warned, the region risks uncoordinated growth, jurisdictional overlaps, and ecological imbalance. The master plan is expected to provide continuity between HMDA's metropolitan framework and the specialised industrial clusters, while charting a clear trajectory for FCDA's urbanisation. It will ensure that development is sustainable, well-integrated, and aligned with the state's long-term vision.
About the Author
Koride Mahesh has been working with the Times of India, Hyderabad for over two decades. He is currently senior assistant editor of TOI, Hyderabad. He holds a PhD (doctorate) in Journalism and has a total of 32 years of experience in print journalism. He extensively writes on urban infrastructure, projects, civic issues, real estate market, land issues, energy, irrigation and state govt administration in Telangana. He also covers state political developments, especially BRS.
