Telangana to introduce a housing policy with private sector participation to address housing gaps and support economic growth
Hyderabad: The government is set to introduce a housing policy that will involve participation from the private sector. The Telangana Housing Board, designated as the nodal agency for drafting the policy, will engage an external agency through a tender process to finalise incentives and regulations.
Officials say this move will address a long-standing gap, as even the erstwhile united Andhra Pradesh lacked a comprehensive housing policy.
As part of the initiative, the government plans to construct houses on the housing board land near the Regional Ring Road and the proposed Future City. Development in high-growth areas will follow the "walk-to-work" concept to ensure residents live close to their workplaces.
"If affordable housing is not built in these growth areas, slums will inevitably emerge nearby. Workers will be forced to commute long distances, missing out on employment opportunities in these economic hubs," said V.P. Gowtham, MD of the Telangana Housing Board.
“The existing income-based housing categories— low-income group (LIG) (Rs 3 lakh to Rs 6 lakh), middle-income group (MIG) (Rs 6 lakh to Rs 12 lakh) and high-income group (HIG) (Rs 12 lakh and above)—will be revised to reflect current economic conditions,” Gowtham told Deccan Chronicle.
“The board will also take steps to protect its land banks, with around Rs 500 crore expected to be raised through the sale of small, unused land parcels adjacent to previously sold plots and houses. Recent land sales have already generated Rs 25 crore,” he stated.
On the concerns over land auctions, Gowtham clarified that the opposition came from adjacent housing allottees, who were seeking to acquire plots at below-market rates. "Each square yard fetched us Rs 1.85 lakh," he said.
The board has also received applications from buyers interested in acquiring half-built houses and towers, which will be processed next month. Additionally, the housing board is planning to spend Rs 25 crore to protect the lands belonging to Deccan Infrastructure and Land Holdings Limited (DILL), Telangana Rajiv Swagruha Corporation Limited and its own land.
