Evolving Urban Form And Its Impact On Housing And Transportation Costs:A Case Study Of Hyderabad

Rapid urbanization and economic growth have reshaped metropolitan landscapes across India, with cities like Hyderabad exemplifying the dual-edged nature of such transformation. The emergence of economic hub like HITEC City has attracted industries in finance, technology, and consultancy, and spurred unprecedented growth in the city’s suburban regions, transforming once-rural areas into sprawling suburbs. But along with this success has come the issue of a housing supply and demand imbalance, which has created serious problems, especially with relation to housing affordability and transportation expenses. Lower-income citizens were forced to the outskirts of the city as once affordable suburbs became high-demand areas as urban expansion spread outward. This paper investigates the interplay between urban sprawl, transportation costs, housing location choices, and affordability in Hyderabad, emphasizing the combined effect of housing and transportation costs (H+T). This study examines how Hyderabad's urban form has changed over time using statistical and geospatial analysis, concentrating on regions that have changed from suburban enclaves to urban centres, such as HITEC City, Financial District, and Kokapet. Patterns of spatial affordability are found by analysing quantitative data on house prices, rental trends, and transit costs. The paper leverages GIS to visualize shifts in housing density, urban boundaries, and commuting patterns, offering a spatial perspective on the affordability challenges. Findings from the review of the existing literature reveal that compact urban forms generally exhibit lower combined housing and transportation costs due to shorter travel distances and greater availability of affordable transit options. On the other hand, Hyderabad's sprawl developments have made transport poverty worse by restricting working-class citizens' access to social opportunities and means of subsistence. As a result, social inequality has increased, and productivity may have decreased. In order to find gaps and opportunities for tackling these issues, the study assesses policy frameworks, with a focus on advancing sustainable mobility and affordable housing options. By highlighting the wider ramifications of urban sprawl on metropolitan affordability and equity, the study will further reveal the factors driving housing location decisions and the effect of urban sprawl on the general well-being of residents in Hyderabad. It highlights the need for integrated planning approaches that balance housing supply with sustainable transport development. The findings will have important policy implications for urban planners and policymakers, highlighting the need for strategies that promote more compact and transit‑oriented development, improve public transportation infrastructure, and ensure equitable access to affordable housing options within the Indian cities.