The municipal administration and urban development (MA&UD) department has started work on the preparation of about 80 master plans for urban development authorities (UDAs) and urban local bodies (ULBs) for 2041. The government has shifted priority to tier-II cities, ULBs with more than one lakh population, and municipalities bordering the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region (HMR). The latest master plans will have provisions for mixed land use, outer ring roads (ORRs), and link roads. Officials said the master plans are necessitated as the government has formed 70 new municipalities. Some of the master plans for Ramagundam, Karimnagar, Nizamabad, and Peddpalli were designed 20 years ago and required revised master plans. Apart from new municipalities, UDAs like Nalgonda, Karimnagar, Siddipet, Khammam, Nizamabad, Mahbubnagar, and Vemulawada Temple Development Authority and Yadadri Temple Development Authority (YTDA) have been formed. The Director of town and country planning (DTCP), a part of MA&UD, is coordinating the preparation of the master plans. Approximately 30 to 35 master plans have already been finished and waiting for the state’s approval. DTCP director K Vidyadhar told the media that the authority wishes to witness rapid growth in towns and urban areas in the next 5-10 years. All the major UDAs and municipalities will also have ORRs keeping future requirements and growth in mind. All master plans until now, including HMR master plan 2031, have agricultural land usage. Since urban master plans do not need agricultural land use, this will be observed as urbanise use where it can be transformed for other purposes. Officials said for the planned development of towns and cities, minister KT Rama Rao also requested authorities to have a proper sewerage network and lung area apart from social infrastructure provision. During the launch of the MA&UD annual report a few days ago, he said Telangana will have 50% of its population in urban regions by 2025. Image Source Also read: Telangana govt plans to offer houses to nala squatters