Location

Hyderabad, Telangana

Constructed By

Mir Alam Bahadur (Prime Minister of Hyderabad)

Year of Construction

1804 to 1806

Architectural Significance

21 arches; an engineering marvel of its time

Original Purpose

Drinking water supply to Hyderabad

Current Status

Historical water reservoir, used for boating & tourism

Bridge Project (2025 Plan)

2.5 km bridge with 3 island zones

Proposed Island Zones

Bird Paradise, amphitheatre, adventure & theme parks, resorts

Governance

Telangana State Government

Tourism Vision

Inspired by Gardens by Bay, Singapore

Environmental Concerns

Need for hydrological & environmental impact assessment

Development Mode

Public Private Partnership (PPP)

Origin

Ananthagiri Hills, Vikarabad district, Telangana

Total Length

~240 km

Empties Into

Krishna River near Wadapally, Nalgonda district

States Covered

Telangana

Major Cities Along Course

Hyderabad, Nalgonda

Historical Significance

Hyderabad was founded on banks of Musi River in 1591 by Muhammad Quli Qutb Shah; several heritage structures (e.g. Charminar, Osmania General Hospital) stand close to river.

Major Tributaries

Left Bank Esa River, Nakkavagu
Right Bank Kukatpally Nala, Balkapur Nala

Important Dams / Reservoirs

Osmansagar (Gandipet) Built in 1920 on Musi for Hyderabad drinking water
Himayatsagar Built in 1927 on Esi, tributary of Musi

Key Bridges/Crossings

Afzalgunj Bridge, Salarjung Bridge, Moosarambagh Bridge

Urban Impact Zones

Hyderabad city is split by Musi River; major slums, sewer outlets & encroachments are situated along riverbanks

Pollution Status

Heavily polluted due to direct discharge of untreated sewage, industrial effluents; listed as a critically polluted river stretch by CPCB

Parks & Green Zones

Musi Riverfront Urban Park (proposed)
Eco parks & biodiversity zones under Musi Rejuvenation Project

Musi Rejuvenation Project (2024–2025)

Part of Telangana government initiative
Wastewater treatment plants
Riverfront development
Artificial islands & tourism hubs (e.g., Mir Alam Tank)
Connectivity to Hyderabad Zoo
PPP-based investment model

Floods & Hazards

Notable flood in 1908 which devastated Hyderabad; led to construction of Osmansagar & Himayatsagar

Recent Development Projects

Mir Alam Tank artificial island bridge project
Gandhi Sarovar at Bapu Ghat
Riverfront redevelopment for tourism & flood control
Musi as smart tourism corridor

Ecological Challenges

River biodiversity loss
Encroachment
Water hyacinth growth
Poor groundwater recharge
Poor water quality (Class E in many zones)

Key Stakeholders

Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB)
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)
Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA)
Telangana State Pollution Control Board (TSPCB)

Location

Bapu Ghat, Langar Houz, Hyderabad, Telangana

Geographical Context

Situated on banks of Musi River; near confluence of historic, religious & civic landmarks

Name Significance

Named Gandhi Sarovar as part of memorial space at Bapu Ghat where ashes of Mahatma Gandhi were immersed

Nature of Water Body

Artificial reservoir/tank

Associated River

Musi River

Current Status (as of 2024–25)

Under proposed redevelopment & rejuvenation plan by Telangana Government; to be transformed into a key site under Musi River Rejuvenation & Urban Beautification Project

Planned Features (2024 Plan)

Landscape beautification
Riverfront promenade
Pedestrian bridge connections
Lighting & eco-friendly construction
Heritage interpretation zones
Tourist amenities (parking, cafés, viewing decks)

Proposed Connectivity

Integrated into broader tourism corridor connecting
Mir Alam Tank Islands
Nehru Zoological Park
Musi Riverfront

Relevance to Musi Project

Acts as one of nodal points in reviving riverine ecology & heritage; being developed as a symbolic green & cultural site

Hydrological Role

Not a major flood absorption zone but contributes to local recharge & landscape retention

Public Use & Civic Impact

Site for public homage, civic ceremonies
Expected to become a cultural, memorial & recreational tourism hub post-revamp

Environmental & Ecological Plans

Plantation of native trees
Use of treated grey water
Bird-friendly landscape
Integration with eco-islands

Administrative Bodies Involved

Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA)
Telangana Tourism Department
Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC)

Challenges

Encroachment around nearby zones
Low maintenance in past years
Lack of consistent civic amenities

Cultural Heritage Angle

Bapu Ghat & Gandhi Sarovar form part of Telangana freedom movement heritage tourism

Willingdon Island

Kochi (Cochin Port)

Kerala

1936 (completed)

~775 acres (3.13 sq. km)

Port, commercial, naval operations

Largest artificial island in India; created during British rule by dredging; houses Cochin Port Trust, Naval Base, Custom Office, luxury hotels

Jawahar Dweep (Butcher Island)

Mumbai Harbour

Maharashtra

1940s (WWII)

~300 acres (1.21 sq. km)

Oil terminal, restricted naval use

Used by Indian Oil Corporation for handling petroleum products; strategic & security-sensitive zone

Middle Ground Coastal Battery

Arabian Sea, Mumbai

Maharashtra

British-era

Very small (~0.3 acres)

Naval defense

Old coastal defense fort; currently operated by Indian Navy

Elephanta Island (semi-artificial extensions)

Mumbai Harbour

Maharashtra

Ancient-natural core; artificial modifications added later

~16 sq. km (includes natural + reclaimed)

Tourism, heritage (UNESCO site)

Though primarily natural, some parts & extensions have been reclaimed; caves are protected monuments

Raja Bhoj Island (Bada Talab, Bhojtal)

Bhopal (Upper Lake)

Madhya Pradesh

21st century (developed as tourism project)

~2.5 acres

Tourism, cultural site

Island hosts Raja Bhoj statue; plans for further development as a lakefront attraction

Mir Alam Tank Islands (Proposed)

Hyderabad

Telangana

Proposed in 2024–25

To be determined (3 island zones planned)

Eco-tourism, entertainment, convention

Part of Telangana’s Musi River Rejuvenation project; themed after Gardens by Bay (Singapore)

Sabarmati Riverfront Islands (conceptual)

Ahmedabad

Gujarat

Ongoing (Riverfront Phase 2)

Not yet fully implemented

Urban green zones, tourism

Artificial islands proposed as ecological parks & leisure areas as part of riverfront beautification

Marine Drive Reclamation Zones

Mumbai

Maharashtra

1940s–1970s

Reclaimed land area forming promenades & parks

Urban expansion

While not islands, parts of coastline were artificially reclaimed into island-like parks & promenades

Nehru Park Island (Hussain Sagar Lake)

Hyderabad

Telangana

1960s

~1 acre

Public park, tourism

Located within Hussain Sagar, accessed via boat; created by minor land reclamation

Ekta Nursery Island (around Statue of Unity)

Kevadia (Sardar Sarovar)

Gujarat

2018–20

~2.5–3 acres

Ecotourism, biodiversity, nursery

Developed as an artificial landform in Narmada backwaters; near Valley of Flowers

Location

Hyderabad, Telangana

Hyderabad, Telangana

Near Bapu Ghat, Hyderabad

Gujarat, Kerala, Karnataka, Telangana (planned)

Historical Context

Built in 1804–06 by Mir Alam Bahadur

River with historic flooding & urban linkage

Site linked to Gandhi ashes immersion

Mostly modern or port-based (e.g. Willingdon, Kadamba)

Main Objective

Bridge & island tourism hub

Rejuvenation, pollution control, tourism

Cultural & historical zone restoration

Varied: tourism, ports, defence, beautification

Architectural Vision

Inspired by Gardens by Bay, Singapore

Riverfront development, eco-restoration

Memorial, gardens, pathways

Depends on island; some reclaimed, some landscaped

Key Features

2.5 km bridge, 3 islands, Bird Paradise, resorts

Boating, theme parks, flood mitigation

Walkways, gardens, memorial integration

Parks, convention centres, naval bases, trade ports

Tourism Focus

Strong – Adventure, Eco-tourism, Family Leisure

Moderate Linked with Mir Alam & Gandhi Sarovar

Cultural & heritage based

High Gujarat Ekta Island, Kerala Willingdon

Governance & Implementation

Telangana Govt. with PPP mode

State-led with multi-departmental integration

Telangana Government

State + Central Government (depending on use case)

Environmental Measures

Hydrological survey, water availability mapping

Environmental assessment, sewage treatment plan

Landscaping & eco sensitive redevelopment

Reclamation norms, marine impact assessments (varied)

Public Access

Full access planned with safety features

Public spaces, boating, riverwalks

Open cultural space

Mostly accessible some restricted (naval/ports)

Timeline

DPR by mid-2025; tenders by June 2025

Ongoing in phases

Parallel with Musi & Mir Alam projects

Varies by project multi-year development cycles

International Influence

Gardens by Bay (Singapore)

Thames Riverfront, Sabarmati Riverfront

National memorial designs

Dubai's Palm Islands (tourism), Singapore's islets

Country / City

Dubai, UAE

Doha, Qatar

Tokyo, Japan

Johor Bahru, Malaysia

Dubai, UAE

Construction Period

2001–2006 (ongoing expansions)

2004–2012

1990s–2000s (ongoing upgrades)

2014–present

2003–onward (partially stalled)

Type

Artificial Palm-shaped archipelago

Artificial mixed-use island

Reclaimed land from Tokyo Bay

Reclaimed island with smart infrastructure

Artificial world-map shaped islands

Tourism Purpose

Luxury tourism, hospitality, beachfront living

High-end leisure, marina lifestyle

Urban entertainment & leisure zone

Eco-tourism, real estate & green living

Exclusive island tourism (planned luxury resorts)

Key Attractions

Atlantis The Palm, Aquaventure Waterpark

Porto Arabia Marina, high-end restaurants

TeamLab Borderless, Oedo Onsen Monogatari

Mangrove parks, duty-free zone, golf resorts

Concept based islands (e.g., Europe, Asia)

Architectural Inspiration

Palm tree shape (symbolic & iconic)

Mediterranean/Arabesque coastal architecture

Futuristic urban design

Smart forest cities (Chinese green-tech design)

World continents & countries layout

Environmental Strategy

Wave-breakers, underwater marine preservation

Water recycling, energy-efficient designs

Green transport, controlled development

Carbon-neutral ambition, vertical greening

Lacks environmental focus; criticized

Governance Model

UAE Government + Nakheel Properties

Qatari Government + UDC

Japan Government + Tokyo Municipal Authorities

Chinese Developer (Country Garden) + Malaysia

Private investors (Nakheel) + UAE Government

Development Challenges

Erosion, marine disruption, costly maintenance

Rising construction costs, exclusivity critique

Earthquake-proofing, land subsidence risk

Environmental displacement, investor skepticism

Maintenance issues, buyer withdrawal, stalling

Global Tourism Appeal

Very high global icon

Moderate elite regional market

High part of Tokyo tourism circuit

Moderate rising among green travel circles

Low vision remains incomplete

Accessibility

Metro, monorail, taxis

Bridge, road access

Tokyo Metro + Rainbow Bridge

Road/port + mainland proximity

Limited boat/helicopter (when operational)

Status

Operational with expansions

Operational

Fully operational

Partially operational, expanding in phases

Partially built, mostly dormant

Cultural Integration

Low luxury & expat oriented

Medium luxury with some Qatari design

High blends tech, culture, leisure

Low residential focused with some cultural shows

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Artificial island tourism zones are new frontiers of urban leisure but also ecological risk zones. Critically analyse with global & Indian examples.