Hyderabad Floods: The Price of Building on the Musi River
Hyderabad's recent floods have reignited debates over the city's decades-old decision to build the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and a Metro station on Imlibun Island, highlighting the risks of encroaching on riverbeds.
Hyderabad FloodsMgbsMusi RiverUrban PlanningEnvironmental ImpactReal EstateSep 27, 2025
Constructed in 1994 by APSRTC on nearly 18 acres leased from the GHMC, MGBS was once hailed as a model of urban transport planning. Today, it stands accused by experts of violating the River Conservation Act. The latest flood chaos, which submerged key city corridors, has exposed the grave risk of placing massive infrastructure inside a river system.
“Locating large-scale infrastructure within a riverbed disregards basic hydrology and inevitably magnifies flood vulnerability. Such outcomes were always predictable,” observed Sukesh Gupta, a member of the Indian Institute for Sustainable Urbanism (IISU).
Environmentalists blame policy failures for the current crisis. “We may not be able to relocate MGBS now, but the government must commit never to build on riverbeds or islands again,” said environmentalist E. Chandrasekhar. He urged the government to develop an alternative bus station in the hangar and old depot area at Osman Shahi, adjacent to the current site on Imlibun Island. “The old bus stand was right there at the hangar,” he said, adding that successive government orders have shrunk buffer zones, aggravating flood risks. “Even the Metro pillars rising from the Musi are eating into its natural flow,” he warned.
As the Musi swelled beyond bridges and inundated neighbourhoods, experts said Hyderabad’s decades of flawed planning are now exacting their price. Vanishing lakes, encroached drains and the choking of the Musi have multiplied the damage. “Treat Musi as a river, not real estate. Every flood will remind us of the price of treating a river as real estate. Until the buffers are restored and the Musi is treated like a river again, Hyderabad will remain defenceless,” an environmentalist cautioned.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) and where is it located?
The Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station (MGBS) is a bus station in Hyderabad, India, located on Imlibun Island in the middle of the Musi River. It was built in 1994 and covers nearly 18 acres.
Why is the location of MGBS controversial?
The location of MGBS is controversial because it was built on Imlibun Island, which is part of the Musi River. This decision is seen as violating the River Conservation Act and has been criticized for increasing flood vulnerability in the city.
What are the main concerns raised by environmentalists about MGBS and the Metro station?
Environmentalists are concerned that building large infrastructure like MGBS and the Metro station on a riverbed disregards basic hydrology and magnifies flood risks. They also point out that such structures interfere with the natural flow of the river.
What solutions have been proposed to address the flood risks in Hyderabad?
Proposed solutions include committing to not build on riverbeds or islands, restoring buffer zones, and developing alternative locations for infrastructure like bus stations. Some experts suggest moving the MGBS to the hangar and old depot area at Osman Shahi.
How have urban planning failures contributed to the current flood crisis in Hyderabad?
Urban planning failures, such as the encroachment of lakes and drains, the choking of the Musi River, and the building of infrastructure on riverbeds, have significantly contributed to the flood crisis in Hyderabad. These actions have reduced the city's natural defenses against flooding.
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