Hyderabad to adopt ‘land pooling’ and Local Area Development Planning to revolutionise HMDA functioning

Land pooling policy likely to involve enforcement instead of the existing consent-based approach.  | Photo Credit: MOHD ARIF

Transformational shifts are on the cards in the urban development approach in Telangana, with the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority setting out to introduce Local Area Development Planning (LADP) coupled with a Comprehensive Land Pooling Policy for better urban planning.

Metropolitan Commissioner Sarfaraz Ahmed in a lengthy interaction on Saturday, said both the policies are aimed at addressing chronic issues such as non-availability of land for organised open spaces, public utilities, social infrastructure and low-cost housing.

LADP, which exists in several other States, was not adopted in Telangana due to availability of vast tracts of open land in Hyderabad and surroundings. It involves HMDA in micro-level planning, instead of confining to designing Master Plans.

“As part of Master Plan, the plan area is divided into one to 1.2 square kilometre grid, and roads and other facilities are planned around each of the grids. Planning each grid, consisting of 250 to 300 acres of land, is not taken care of so far, leaving several plots without access roads. LADP envisions intensive planning inside each grid, leading to more organised development,” Mr. Ahmed said.

It will also help planners to earmark spaces for public utilities, parks, schools and hospitals, besides providing pedestrian infrastructure.

Town planning legislations have provisions for the LADP, but it has so far been neglected in the undivided Andhra Pradesh and Telangana too. Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has given in-principle approval for the proposal giving the urban development authority a nod for appointing a consultant for the same.

Land pooling policy which is in the drafting stage, involves enforcement instead of the existing consent-based approach. It is being modelled after the policy adopted by the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) of Andhra Pradesh, and requires certain amendments with regard to resumption of assigned lands in lieu of developed plots.

Mr. Ahmed shared that three to four tenders are lined up in the month of June respectively for LADP, mapping of the Telangana Core Urban Region, reorganisation of HMDA based on the other similarly sized UDAs in terms of structures and processes, and restructuring of all processes to fit into the new system.

Mr. Ahmed also dwelt upon the reasons for delay in launching of works for various projects including the elevated corridors on National Highway 44 and on the State Highway 1, citing bureaucratic delays in land survey under different Defence wings, permissions from Director General of Civil Aviation, and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, a simulation study to be done by IIT Hyderabad for one of the two under tunnels, and procedure to be followed in property acquisition.

“We are also applying the Relief & Rehabilitation provision of the Land Acquisition Act, in order to preclude future complications and court cases,” Mr. Ahmed said, adding that the works may be grounded in the first week of August.

Speaking about the radial road connecting the Outer Ring Road with the Regional Ring Road he said the project ran into legal wrangles, and due to stay orders issued from the High Court, the price bid has not been opened, which has stalled the tendering process. Forest permissions too are still in the pipeline, he informed.

Published - May 31, 2025 09:40 pm IST