SCB clears defence lands for elevated corridors, skywalks

Hyderabad: The Secunderabad Cantonment Board (SCB) has approved the transfer of defence lands for elevated corridors/skyways under the Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP). This decision, following the directions of the Ministry of Defence (MoD), mandated a deposit of Rs 383.44 crore into the Secunderabad Cantonment fund account as compensation for an equal value of land, covering an extent of 33.72 acre, as calculated by the Defence Estates Officer (DEO).

In November 2015, the state government initiated the proposal for transferring land within the Cantonment to improve congested roads in the city under the SRDP. The project encompasses two main roads: Rajiv Rahadari state highway from Parade Grounds to Hakimpet airport, and national highway number 44 from Paradise circle to Suchitra junction.

While the MoD granted in-principle approval for the transfer of 90.69 acre of defence land in various GLR survey numbers for the project in August 2017, a year later Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao accepted all terms and conditions, except for the payment of recurring compensation to SCB. The SCB projected an annual compensation of Rs 31.20 crore for the loss of its revenue.

A joint survey for the proposed alignment along with SH-01 and NH-44 has been conducted, and as per the proposal, the DEO worked out the cost of the project plan considering the STR 2023 for the land admeasuring 15.351 acres, which is included in the proposal for State Highway-1, i.e., Rajiv Rahadari Road, and amounts to approximately Rs 158.23 crore. Similarly, for the Medchal Nagpur highway, an area of 18.37 acres is involved in the proposal, amounting to approximately Rs 225.21 crore.

The lands, under the management of SCB, are Class C lands (SCB use) and B2 lands (private) gifted to or vested in the Cantonment board. Additionally, certain old grant properties in the civil areas of Trimulgherry Bazaar (Lal Bazaar), Kadakpura, Kharkana, Risala Bazaar (Bolarum), etc., will be affected, requiring separate compensation to be paid to the HOR for the structures.

Moreover, certain major pump houses along with ground-level storage reservoirs of Balamrai and Bownepally are affected in the proposal, necessitating immediate alternate arrangements before the commencement of the execution of the project.

An official statement noted, "The matter of compensation towards land and structures situated on B2 lands of various private individuals may be dealt with separately by the state government as per the norms. Further, the matter of compensation to the HOR for the structures situated in notified civil areas should be considered separately."

Similarly, the government of Telangana has been requested to take up the responsibility of restoring and operationalising the water supply network affected in the subject proposal, as well as ensuring uninterrupted drinking water supply in the Cantonment area through HMWS&SB, which is well-versed in augmenting water supply in twin cities at their cost by implementing alternative storage structures based on necessity.