Suresh Dharur

Tribune News Service

Hyderabad, March 8

Hyderabad has added yet another feather to its cap by emerging as the best city to live in India. According to a global survey conducted by consultancy firm Mercer’s, Hyderabad has surpassed India’s more traditional business centres, including Mumbai and Bangalore, to be categorised as the best city to live in the country.

Notwithstanding its top rank among Indian cities, Hyderabad globally ranks at 138th position in a list of 230 cities around the world in terms of standard of living, according to Mercer’s ‘Quality of Living Report-2015,’ The list is topped by Vienna for the second consecutive year. Besides Hyderabad, the list figures seven other Indian cities -Pune (145), Bangalore (146), Chennai (151), Mumbai (152), New Delhi (154) and Kolkata (160).

“Over time, Hyderabad has emerged as a city of choice due to factors such as improved options for international schools and a fine choice of reputable English speaking schools,” Mercer said, adding that “Additionally, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport is located 22 km from the city and offers a good range of international flights, which improves its ranking on account of public services.”

Mercer India Practice Leader (Global Mobility) Ruchika Pal said: “Considerable population increases in Mumbai and New Delhi, in the recent decades, have increased existing problems.”

Globally, Vienna is followed by Zurich, Auckland, Munich, Vancouver, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Geneva, Copenhagen and Sydney, as the world’s top 10 cities in terms of quality of living.