Indiramma Housing drive to cover core urban region

The Telangana government has set the ball rolling for large-scale construction of Indiramma houses across the Core Urban Region Economy (CURE), covering Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Sangareddy and Medchal–Malkajgiri districts.

Minister for Revenue and Housing Ponguleti Srinivasa Reddy said the beneficiary selection process would be completed by the end of March.

Reviewing the housing policy with senior officials at the Secretariat, the Minister said the government would simultaneously focus on land acquisition for Indiramma model colonies in slums, completion of unfinished double-bedroom houses, and allocation of completed units.

The review meeting was attended by Rangareddy and Hyderabad district in-charge ministers D. Sridhar Babu and Ponnam Prabhakar, along with Minority Welfare Minister Mohammad Azharuddin.

Officials informed the ministers that a recent field survey revealed that of the 42,000 houses built earlier on the city’s outskirts, only about half are currently occupied. Instances of bogus beneficiaries were also flagged.

Taking these findings into account and in line with the vision of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, the government is considering construction of five- to ten-storey Indiramma housing complexes closer to habitation zones to ensure minimal disruption to livelihoods. A final decision is expected after discussion in the upcoming Cabinet meeting.

The Minister directed commissioners of the three municipal corporations and collectors of the four districts to jointly identify suitable land parcels and submit detailed reports within 10 days, indicating the number of houses that can be built and eligible beneficiaries. Special focus has been placed on the CURE limits.

He also said that where slum residents agree and land is available, G+5 Indiramma housing complexes would be developed. Dilapidated houses constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission will be replaced with new Indiramma units.

As an immediate measure, approval letters will be issued by the end of this month to 28,000 beneficiaries who already possess house sites within the limits of the three municipal corporations.

District collectors have been instructed to complete beneficiary selection for both completed and incomplete double-bedroom houses by March-end. For unfinished units, identified beneficiaries will be permitted to complete construction, with remaining funds to be released by the housing corporation after accounting for earlier expenditure.

The Minister ordered strict action against beneficiaries who have been allotted houses but are not residing in them, including issuance of notices. Bogus beneficiaries are to be weeded out and replaced with eligible poor families, strictly without political interference.

Affordable Housing Between RRR and ORR

The government will also roll out an affordable housing policy for the middle class in the zone between the Regional Ring Road and the Outer Ring Road, on the lines of housing developed earlier in KPHB. Officials have been directed to identify land at four locations and submit a report within 10 days.