Hyderabad: Vision 2047 for Hyderabad must prioritise equitable healthcare, world-class education infrastructure, and transforming it into one of the happiest and most livable cities, said panellists at a discussion on “Livability @ 2047: Housing, Healthcare, Education and Safety”, organised by The Times of India, Hyderabad as part of the Hyderabad@25 celebrations.Opening the discussion on healthcare, Dr D Nageshwar Reddy, chairman of AIG Hospitals, shared how affordability must be central to future planning. He pointed out that despite several govt schemes, nearly 70% of the population still bears hospital expenses out of their own pockets. “By 2047, no patient in the country should be compelled to pay out-of-pocket for treatment. The focus should be on making healthcare truly affordable by ensuring low-cost insurance coverage for all. Only then can we move towards equitable healthcare,” he said.Shifting the focus to education, Professor Srikrishna Deva Rao, vice-chancellor of NALSAR, highlighted that even with premier institutions like IIT, IIIT, and ISB, Indian universities continue to lag globally. He stressed the need for increased investment in education at all levels. “We saw concentrated efforts in IT, tech, and pharma. Now, a similar push is needed for education, right from schools to colleges, universities, skill training, and vocational courses,” he added.As the discussion turned to women’s safety, Charu Sinha, additional director general of police (CID and Women Safety) Telangana Police, outlining the persistent challenges posed by rapid urbanisation. “Street crimes against women are at an all-time high. Whether in public or private transport, the same issues like harassment and flashing that existed 35 years ago persist even today,” she said. While initiatives such as the recently launched Safe Mobility Initiative, which allows women to dial 100 for immediate help, are steps in the right direction, Sinha emphasised that deeper social change is required. “A girl can call us the moment she is touched inappropriately or harassed, but enforcement alone can only do so much. We need to address the basic conditioning of boys, and that’s where education becomes crucial—not just literacy, but instilling respect and values from the ground up,” she added.QUOTES:“Hyderabad has seen a boom in large corporate hospitals with advanced infrastructure, reaffirming its role in healthcare technology. But most of these hospitals are concentrated in business districts, making them less accessible and often unaffordable for those in older parts of the city. Nursing homes, meanwhile, are usually run by individual doctors focusing on limited specialties. To bridge this gap, there is a need for mid-sized specialty hospitals in the peripheries and older areas, perhaps every 2 to 3 km, equipped with good infrastructure and technology. This would make quality healthcare both accessible and affordable for the common man.” – Dr Sridhar Peddireddy, managing director, Renova Hospitals.“By 2047, Hyderabad should aspire to become the happiest city. But with a rising population, the city will inevitably face pressure on infrastructure, a higher cost of living, and growing concerns around affordability. While FSI may improve affordability to some extent, they will also put additional strain on infrastructure. Every major city, even New York, grapples with such challenges despite having some of the best public transport systems. Ultimately, Hyderabad must evolve into a sustainable city with strong connectivity and inclusive infrastructure to truly ensure happiness for its people,” – Veera Babu, executive MD (India), Cushman & Wakefield
