Hyderabad became the capital of the newly formed state of Andhra Pradesh in 1956. Located 650mts above sea level, the physiography of the city is dominated by hills, tanks, forests and rock formations. The city is strategically located on the Indian map blending the cultures of North and South India, National Highway No.7 and 9 passing through it. It is a city of cosmopolitan character embracing people of different religions, languages and races.

The city has a number of universities, research and training institutions, including defence, police and administrative academies. Besides major industries both in state and central sectors, it is famous for tourist attractions like Charminar, Qutubshahi Tombs, Golconda Fort, Zoological Gardens, etc., Hyderabad was founded in 1591 by Mohd. Quli Qutub Shah after the earlier capital city of Golconda became over crowded. As per 2001 census, the population of Hyderabad Metropolitan Area was about 6.5 million, spread over an area of nearly 1864 sq kms. with decadal growth of 29% and ranking 6th in population among the major metropolitan cities in India.

The metropolitan area of Hyderabad was notified under the Andhra Pradesh Urban (Dev.) Act 1975 and termed as "Development Area". This consists of the MCH, 10 municipalities and a vast area under Gram Panchayats. In order to plan for this composite area, the Government of Andhra Pradesh constituted on 2nd October 1975, the "Hyderabad Urban Development Authority". HUDA has prepared two master plans and 20 Zonal Development plans for this area of which one master plan and 18 Zonal Development plans are already notified by law and in force

TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION : HUDA's jurisdiction extends over an area of 1348 sq.kms. covering the entire district of Hyderabad and parts of Ranga Reddy and Medak destricts. It includes 173 sq. kms. under Hyderabad Municipal corporation Area and 416 sq. kms. under 10 Municipalities, and 1273 sq. mts. under 105 gram panchayats.

FUNCTIONS: HUDA's functions include :

PLANNING - preparation and revision of Master Plan and Zonal Development Plans

REGULATION AND CONTROL - to regulate and control the development through statutory plans and other measures.

DEVELOPMENT - to undertake various developmental projects in the Developmental Area

CO-ORDINATION - to coordinate with other public agencies concerned with provisions of urban infrastructure, services and amenities.

ORGANISATION : The Board ( known as Authority) is constituted by the Government from time to time. The Board consists of a Chairman, Vice Chairman, Official Members representing the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad, Town and Country Planning Department, Finance Department, non-official members representing the local municipal bodies and legislators and experts of different disciplines. The Board in all consists of 15 members.

A COMPETENT MULTI-FUNCTIONAL BODY : The Organisation has a well equipped multi-functional group representing various branches of urban planning and development viz., town planning, engineering, traffic and transportation, land acquisition, revenue collection, accounting and finance, administration, public relations, urban forestry, etc.

FUNDS AND FINANCE : HUDA's fund include its own revenues viz., Development charges, processing fees, sale receipts on disposal of developed plots and built up houses, rents, etc, besides the annual grants and special grants for specific purposes from the state and central Governments, loans, debentures, etc.

AUDIT : The Accountant General of Andhra Pradesh State has been the Auditing Authority of the Annual Accounts of HUDA and the accounts of the Authority are upto date.

Government of Andhra Pradesh – Declaration of the Hyderabad Development Area

1. The Andhra Pradesh Urban Areas (Development) Act, 1975 (Act No.1 of 1975) will come into force in the State of Andhra Pradesh with effect from 1-10-1975 by virtue of the notification to be published as required under sub-section (3) of the section 1 of the Act in the A.P. Gazette extraordinary dated 29.9.1975.

2. The Special Officer, Urban Development Authority has submitted proposals for declaration of the development area to be notified by the Government under section 13 (1) of the Act taking into consideration, the studies conducted by the Director of Town Planning for the purpose of preparing the Development plan for the Hyderabad Metropolitan Region, (i.e. Master Plan) the delineation report of Hyderabad Metropolitan District prepared by the Director of Town Planning in the year 1967 and also the areas where industries have been located out-side but in the vicinity of the cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad.The Government have examined the proposals and consider that it is expedient to notify the areas covering broadly an area of about 600 sq.miles as detailed in Schedule to the Notifications appended hereto, which are meant for development under the provisions of the Andhra Pradesh Urban Areas (Development) Act, 1975.

The Schedule contained 305 villages and the Area covered by the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad . Subsequently, Malkajgiri Municipality was formed on 20th July, 1981 and eight Municipalities were constituted in April 1981, viz., for Alwal, Kapra, Uppal Kalan, L.B.Nagar, Rajendernagar, Seri Lingampally, Qutubullapur and Kukatpally respectively. The Gaddiannaram Municipality was constituted in 2001. Besides these, the Cyberabad Developemnt Area was constituted in 2001, the Buddha Poornima Project Authority was constituted in 2001 while the Hyderabad Airport Development Authority was constituted in 2002. With these changes, the jurisdiction of HUDA has changed from the original 1861sq km in 1975 to about 1348 sq km. In 2002.The area covered by Secunderabad Cantonment Area is outside the jurisdiction of HUDA. The Government vide Government Order No. 421 MA, Dt.29-9-1975 constituted the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority with effect from 2nd October, 1975

PRESENT JURISDICTION OF HUDA OTHER URBAN DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITIES IN HYDERABAD METROPOLITAN AREA

I. LIST OF LOCAL BODIES AREAS COVERED IN HUDA AREA

Jurisdiction of HUDA : About 1348 sq. km Municipal Corportaion of Hyderabad area of 172 sq km

10 Municipalities (All falling in Ranga Reddy District)

Functions of HUDA

The main functions of Hyderabad Urban Development Authority are:

Preparation and Implementation of plan that includes Master plan and Zonal Development Plans.
Regulation and control of the developmental plans.
To undertake developmental projects for urban development.
To co- ordinate with other agencies for provisions of urban infrastructure, services and amenities.