ITIR to be exempt from zoning regulations
The Information Technology and Communications (IT&C) department has decided to exempt office space and campuses in the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) from zoning regulations and height restrictions. This move is intended to promote IT, ITeS as well as electronic hardware manufacturing units in the ITIR, which is proposed to be set up in a 202-sq.km area in the city.
Permission to convert ITIR land for other purposes granted:
Due to the exemption of zoning regulations, IT and ITeS firms, as well as IT campuses which are proposed to come up at the ITIR would be permitted to convert the land allocated to them for other purposes. This includes conversion to residential, commercial, institutional, public/semi-public, industrial, conservation or agricultural zones. Besides, such firms would be exempt from paying land conversion charges to the authority.
Firms in ITIR allowed to hold large land parcels:
Firms coming up in the ITIR were also allowed to hold a large extend of land since it was not necessary to file a declaration or obtain permission of Urban Land (Ceiling and Regulation) Act, 1976. This is due to the fact that the Repeal Act, 1999 was adopted by the state. With regards to claiming exemptions, it was required that firms should be notified by the IT&C department. Besides, environmental safeguards should also be ensured.
IT&C joins hands with other departments to form five zones across city:
With the motive of taking the ITIR proposal further and making it a reality, the IT&C department has joined hands with other departments. They include the Andhra Pradesh Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (APIIC), the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) as well as other deparments. As a result, a special development authority would be formed that would be in charge of developing five zones across the city. They include Cyberabad and surrounding areas under Zone-I, Shamshabad and Maheshwaram under Zone-II, Uppal and Pocharam under Zone-III, the connecting areas to the ORR from Cyberabad abd Shamshabad as well as the international airport under Zone IV and the connecting areas to the ORR from Shamshabad airport to Uppal and Pocharam under Zone V.
ITIR area would be divided for different purposes:
Based on the detailed project report prepared for the ITIR, from the 202 sq.km allocated for the project, 82.38 sq.km would be utilised for developing industries (processing area), 38.13 sq.km would be dedicated for residential purposes, that includes existing villages and colonies. Besides, 6.6 sq.km would be utilised for commercial purposes, 24 sq.km for roads, 11.66 sq.km for greenery, 6.51 sq.km for recreation, 2.24 sq.km for logistics, and 25.47 sq.km forest land which would be converted into water bodies and a green zone. Apart from this, 5.26 sq.km is a reserved forest area and 5.47 sq.km is made up of water bodies, which cannot be utilised for any other purposes.
IT&C to remove height restrictions and FSI for buildings in ITIR:
The IT&C department has also taken a decision to do away with height restrictions and floor space index (FSI) for buildings constructed in the region. However, the companies and units in the ITIR would still have to pay the city-level infrastructure impact fee and also get a no objection certificate (NOC) from the Fire Services department as well as from the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
Govt to create fund for developing infrastructure in ITIR:
There is also a proposal to set up special units in the HMDA, GHMC as well as APIIC so that building permissions and clearances can be obtained without any hassles within 15 days in the respective areas. Besides, infrastructure facilities would be taken up within the ITIR area, with the Union government creating a fund for the development of infrastructure. This includes developing roads, power supply, water supply, solid waste management, telecommunication, signage ans walkways.
