Progress of Hyderabad Smart City Projects in 2026 Under the Smart Cities Mission

Hyderabad: Smart infrastructure development in the city continues to accelerate through a combination of national Smart Cities Mission initiatives and Telangana’s large-scale Future City blueprint. As of early 2026, most smart infrastructure components are operational, with major long-term expansion planned toward 2047.

Smart Cities Mission Framework and Telangana Implementation

Launched in 2015, the Smart Cities Mission aimed to modernize 100 Indian cities through area-based development and technology integration.

In Telangana:

• Warangal and Karimnagar were officially selected under the mission.
• By mid-2025, 94% of 8,067 projects nationwide were completed.
• Total national investment stood at ₹1.64 lakh crore.

Telangana Smart City Progress

• Warangal: 45 projects completed; 66 projects worth ₹518 crore underway.
• Karimnagar: 25 projects completed worth ₹287 crore.

While Hyderabad was not a direct Smart Cities Mission city, it adopted similar smart infrastructure components independently.

Hyderabad’s Smart Infrastructure Investments

Hyderabad has implemented several large-scale smart infrastructure upgrades:

Key Investments

• ₹600 crore smart LED streetlighting with sensor-based controls
• ₹1,500 crore IoT-managed waste management systems
• ₹800 crore smart water monitoring and leakage detection systems
• Metro expansion project valued at ₹15,000 crore targeting 72 km connectivity

These systems focus on sustainability, efficiency, and urban mobility.

Surveillance, Traffic Management and Digital Infrastructure

The city has deployed:

• 10,000+ CCTV cameras integrated with Hawk Eye policing systems
• AI-based traffic monitoring and e-challan automation
• Public Wi-Fi infrastructure in commercial and tourist zones
• IoT-based waste bins and motion-sensor street lighting in growth corridors

Data analytics is increasingly used for:

• Traffic flow optimization
• Urban planning
• Resource allocation

Officials report measurable improvements in congestion management and operational efficiency.

Related article
1. Hyderabad Infrastructure 2026: RRR Phase 1 Near Completion as NH-44 Flyover Delays Frustrate Commuters

2. GHMC Budget 2024–25: What It Means for Hyderabad’s Growth

Multimodal Connectivity and Growth Corridors

Smart corridor development includes integration between:

• Hyderabad Metro
• Outer Ring Road (ORR)
• Regional Ring Road (RRR)

This multimodal strategy aims to reduce congestion, improve last-mile connectivity, and support expanding IT and residential clusters.

Green space development and water conservation projects are being scaled in parallel.

Telangana’s Future City Project – A Net-Zero Urban Model

The Future City project, spanning approximately 30,000 acres along the Srisailam Highway, is being developed as a next-generation net-zero urban hub.

Future City Key Features

Feature	Specification
Total Area	30,000 acres
Core Zones	Residential, Industrial, Commercial, Green
Energy Model	Net-zero via solar and renewables
Connectivity	ORR, RRR, proposed metro links
Focus Sectors	AI, life sciences, fintech

The project aims to promote zero-waste recycling, rainwater harvesting, and renewable energy systems.

Long-term economic projections align with Telangana’s 2047 development roadmap.

Emerging Developments – AI City and 15-Minute City Model

Additional proposals include:

• Mucherla AI City (Fourth City concept)
• 15-minute city design with radial road networks
• Net-zero pharma parks targeted by 2027

These developments are expected to stimulate real estate growth, employment generation, and IT-pharma sector expansion.

Challenges and Implementation Outlook

Despite significant progress, challenges remain:

• Budget constraints
• Project timeline extensions
• Post-pandemic execution delays

However, state-level prioritization and phased funding extensions indicate continued momentum.

Hyderabad’s smart infrastructure push positions the city as a technology-driven, sustainability-focused urban center.