HMDA to change agricultural land use along highways

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority has decided to convert agricultural land along the four national highways and state highways leading out of the city into multi-purpose use so that the land can be used for residential, semi-residential, commercial and semi-commercial purposes.

An official at HMDA claimed that this move, before the preparation of an integrated master plan, will curb rapidly growing illegal layouts in the outskirts of the city and mop up Rs 6,000 crore.

The HMDA will convert all agricultural land in a 500-metre radius along the national and state highways. The land use will be changed for agricultural land along NH 44 (Nagpur-Hyderabad-Bengaluru), NH 65 (Pune-Hyderabad-Vijayawada), NH 163 (Hyderabad-Warangal), NH 65 (Hyderabad-Srisailam), SH 4 (Hyderabad-Chevella), SH 6 (Hyderabad-Bhodan), SH 1 (Hyderabad- Karimnagar) and SH 19 (Hyderabad-Nagarjunasagar).

A senior HMDA official said that the multi-purpose zones along NHs and SHs will be included in the integrated master plan. He said that the authority had prepared the draft proposal of zone conversion and it would be sent to the government for final approval.

“It has come to the notice of the HMDA that several persons have been making layouts without permission and selling them for whopping amounts as they are along NHs and SHs. To curb the illegal layouts and help citizens, the HMDA has converted the land to multi-purpose zones,” the official said.

The official said the HMDA would provide wayside amenities in open spaces. These will include multi-purpose event venue, health care centre, parking lots, vehicle service centre, fuel stations, food courts, restaurants, ATMs and budget hotels for overnight halts.

He said land use conversions and wayside amenities would generate about '6,000 crore. The HMDA would enter a memorandum of understanding once the proposal is finalised by the government.

The official said landowners willing to change land use should pay a conversion fee after the notice issued by the authority.

He made it clear that industries would not be permitted in the zones.