Hyderabad metro: Land acquisition of Jawaharnagar Defence land
The Rs. 16,500-crore elevated Hyderabad metro rail project, which spans 72 kms, and passes through three dense corridors pervading the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad has once again got embroiled in land acquisitions issues. At the centre of the controversy this time is the 2.05 acres of defence land that was to be allotted towards the metro rail Project in Secunderabad cantonment. To compensate for this loss, the defence authorities had requested Hyderabad Metro Rail Limited (HMRL) for an alternate land with equivalent market value. The HMRL had in turn identified 25 acres of land at Jawaharnagar village in Shamirpetmandal, Rangareddy district in 2011. The paperwork for granting the same to the defence was in the process of being completed.
However, it came as a bolt out of the blue when the defence estate officials rejected this exchange proposal. This decision was arrived at following a Special Task Force (STF) meeting to review the progress of the metro rail project. Doubts were raised by defence officials who attended the meeting regarding the 25-acre government land that was allotted as compensation to the defence, with survey number 706/P. The reason cited was that the proposed land is under litigation. Besides, it is not suitable for defence personnel as it is situated near hillocks. Now, the HMRL has no other alternative but to scout for any other piece of alternate land which is suitable for the metro Project in Rangareddy District.
In the meantime, a letter was sent from the Chief Secretary to the Defense Secretary to seek permission for taking over the defence land located between Secunderabad Club, Parade Grounds and Defence Estates Office, situated near the Cantonment Board Office. The purpose of this particular land was to carry out work on the pillars for the proposed metro rail connecting Jubilee Bus Station, Faluknuma and the Nagole-Shilparamam corridors. However, in this case, the defence officials have already consented to part with the land to the metro rail project on the condition that the HMRL grants them an equivalent value of land that they would be losing in the process. Binding on the allocation of the compensated land by HMRL, the report for parting with the proposed land will be send to the Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Meanwhile, HMRL officials confirmed that since the Jawaharnagar land was refused by defense officials, HMRL has identified a similar extend of land that is litigation-free at Vikarabad in Rangareddy district. HMRL is awaiting a report from the Rangareddy collectorate, following which they will inform the government to initiate the process of issuing a Government Order (GO) for the allocation of land to defense authorities.
Effect on Real Estate market:
Jawaharnagar, basically being a village in Rangareddy district, near Hyderabad covers about 15,000 acres and houses many premier educational institutions like the BITS Pilani campus in Hyderabad, Biotech Park and Meditech Valley. However, the main drawback in this locality is that in an area covering approximately 350 acres, the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) has a dump yard located where about 3500 metric tons of waste that Hyderabad generates, is dumped here daily. Currently, the average prices for residential property here is RS. 4500 per sq ft. The real estate prices in the locality are likely to remain stable as the allocation of land at Jawaharnagar to the defense would otherwise have resulted in a considerable dirth of land, thereby pushing prices higher.
Other land acquisitions issues for the metro:
The Hyderabad metro rail project had earlier got embroiled in similar land acquisition issues. The first such instance is with the Andhra Pradesh State Wakf Board (APSWB) due to the acquisition of 900 sq yards of land by the metro project, issued to a wakf institution in Kukatpally, without the approval of APSWB. A decision is still pending in this regard. Besides, it is also involved in land acquisition disputes with local traders in the corridor leading to the IT hub of Hyderabad, the Ameerpet stretch and the corridor that passes through the Old City touching the Sultan Bazar market junction which is a commercial landmark. Moreover, land acquisition from many properties holding religious structures including the Iskon temple are still shrouded in controversy.
With all these hurdles in the way of the Hyderabad metro rail project, the deadline of March, 2015 that has been set for completion of phase-1 would have to be extended, impinging on how soon these issues can be amicably resolved, without disrupting the smooth progress of the metro project.
