Property acquisition proposals of ₹760 crore pending before the government

Property acquisition challenges hinder GHMC's H-CITI project, with ₹760 crore in pending land awards awaiting state government funding.

Property acquisition is proving to be a major roadblock for several development projects lined up before the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), including the much publicised Hyderabad City Innovative and Transformative Infrastructure (H-CITI) project.

According to highly placed sources, land acquisition awards to the tune of ₹760 crore have been pending due to paucity of funds. The awards have been sent to the State government for sanction, but no funding has been provided so far. The State government has given an administrative sanction for ₹5,942 crore for the H-CITI project, which involves construction of road infrastructure as a solution for traffic congestion at major junctions in the city. Major portion of the funding, to the tune of ₹1,100 crore is earmarked for alleviation of traffic chaos at six junctions around the Kasu Brahmananda Reddy National Park in Banjara Hills.

Several other road widening works and nala development works too are stalled for lack of right of way, which can only be obtained through land acquisition. As per official sources, close to 300 properties have been identified for full or partial acquisition to see the H-CITI project through. Of these, about 190 properties are located between Road No. 12 junction and Jubilee Hills checkpost junction, where the property prices are among the highest in the city, and could prove to be a drain on the exchequer.

The GHMC authorities are attempting a mix of monetary compensation and transferable development rights for acquisition of these properties.