Telangana government readies its land pooling scheme

Hyderabad: The TS government has readied a land pooling scheme (LPS) on the city outskirts along the Warangal and Vijayawada highways to develop growth corridors.

The government proposes to procure land from owners and develop layouts abutting the Outer Ring Road and hand it over to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority. In return, it will offer 50 per cent developed land to owners under the public-private partnership mode.

TS has given in-principle approval for the LPS drafted by the HMDA, which is aimed at fast-tracking real estate growth on the outskirts and decongesting core areas. The final notification would be issued after the state Cabinet gives its approval. The minimum cap has been fixed at 50 acres for land pooling and there is no maximum limit.

First phase of LPS in Ghatkesar
In the land pooling system, the TS government has readied, if it procures 400 acres, it would utilise 40 per cent to develop roads, water connectivity, drainage system, power, parks, playgrounds, community halls and common facilities. Of the remaining 60 per cent, the HMDA would hold 10 per cent and the remaining space would be offered to owners.

HMDA would pay for the development and the government hopes to recover HMDA’s investment from its 10 per cent land share.

“In the first phase, the LPS would be implemented in Ghatkesar along the Warangal highway and Batasingaram along the Vijayawada highway. These areas are within a 1-km radius on either side of the ORR but lack approach roads,” a senior official of the municipal administration department said.

“We plan to lay grid roads by spending Rs 200 crore. That will spur construction activity and enable decongesting the core areas as people would choose these new locations. In the next stage, this model would be extended to other locations along the ORR,” he said. The TS government’s proposed LPS is different from the AP government’s LPS for constructing the Amaravati capital city.

The AP government will pay Rs 1 lakh per acre for horticultural land in Amaravati. The farmers have to sign the development agreement with the CRDA to avail the compensation. Owners of irrigated land will receive Rs 50,000 per acre as annuity, and owners of dry land, Rs 30,000.  The annuity will be paid for 10 years.

Landowners will get developed residential and commercial plots ranging from 900 to 1,700 square yards for every one acre (4,840 square yards) of land surrendered.