Uppal Bhagat success spurs HMDA to eye land in Pratap Singaram

Hyderabad: After the huge success of land pooling in Uppal Bhagat layout in Nagole, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) is considering another such project in Pratap Singaram in Ghatkesar Mandal in Medchal-Malkajgiri district. Property owners, mainly consisting of farmers from the village have already requested the metropolitan body to take up Uppal Bhagat like land development model on their land.

Nearly 200 acres of open land with clear title is available in Pratap Singaram village. The metropolitan body was flooded with development offers from property owners, who were impressed with Uppal Bhagat project, but it is carefully considering the requests ruling out any type of land parcels that are stuck in litigations.

It may be mentioned here that HMDA acquired nearly 733 acres land in Uppal Bhagat out of which nearly 300 acres of developed plots were given to property owners, while another 100 acres was given for HMR depot, also 40 acres was allotted to HMWSSB for sewerage treatment plant, 10 acres for developing Shilparamam (being built).

The rest of the land is in HMDA's possession out of which 1.37 lakh square yards was divided into 67 plots and e-auctioned few days ago making the metropolitan body richer by a whopping Rs 677 crore. However, this amount is expected to reach the metropolitan body's coffers only after two months, assuming the majority of the bidders' do not default on the total payment.

Although the HMDA is set to get richer by more than six hundred and fifty crores, it is up to the State government on how to utilise the funds. The metropolitan body did not get any permission from the government on funds utilisation although it is doing major projects like Balanagar flyover, investing in Metro rail extension up to Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, road widenings in different corners of the city etc. An official said it was up to the State government to take a call on how to use the Rs 677 crore funds. It may think of it in June-July only when the total amount reaches its coffers, the official said.

When asked about the huge response to the Uppal Bhagat e-auction drive, wherein a sq yard fetched a huge Rs 73,900 (highest) price while the average price for each of the total 1.37 lakh square yards was also Rs 51,000, authorities said that location of the land proved to be tempting for the buyers.

"Nowhere in the heart of the city a buyer could get open plots in the square yards ranging up to 500, 600, 800, 1000, 1500, 2600, 3700, 4600 (nearly an acre) and hence it drew a big attraction.

All those who want to buy big chunks of lands have no option but to explore city outskirts, but here was a fully developed layout in the centre of the city. Also, the fact that it is surrounded by HMR main station in Nagole and its 100-acre depot that is going to be developed in a big way, location very near to the Uppal-LB Nagar main road, and availability of various amenities in close proximity etc. played a part. Not only individual buyers like NRIs, owners of education institutions and hospitals, IT firms etc were among the successful bidders," officials said.