Telangana expedites land identification for Indiramma Towers project

HYDERABAD: Telangana Revenue and Housing Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy has directed officials to expedite the identification of land for the Indiramma Towers project across the Hyderabad region. The directive comes as the state government aims to construct one lakh houses in three phases within the Comprehensive Urban Redevelopment (CURE) area.

The initiative, aligned with Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s vision, aims to provide housing to underprivileged families near their current residences to ensure their livelihoods remain unaffected. During a review meeting at the secretariat on Friday, Ponguleti instructed district collectors to secure suitable sites on a priority basis while strictly safeguarding government-owned lands,. The project is being implemented by treating each assembly constituency as a single administrative unit.

Under the first phase, the administration plans to build approximately 500 houses in each assembly constituency. The minister directed collectors to expedite land identification in two to three constituencies immediately, while securing sites for the remaining areas to facilitate subsequent phases. He also instructed officials to continuously monitor land availability and site suitability to ensure effective implementation. Revenue Secretary D.S. Lokesh Kumar and Housing Secretary V.P. Gautham were among the senior officers present at the comprehensive review.

Concurrently, the selection process for double-bedroom housing beneficiaries in the Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal-Malkajgiri districts is set to conclude by the end of October. To ensure absolute transparency, the Telangana Housing Corporation will utilise specialised software to conduct an online draw of eligible applicants. Complete details of all beneficiaries will be entered into the digital system before the draw. The proceedings will be broadcast live, with recordings made available on YouTube for public verification by those unable to watch in real time.

The construction of high-rise towers in urban clusters marks a significant shift in the state's affordable housing strategy, addressing the acute shortage of space in the capital region. By prioritising sites near existing habitations, the government is attempting to balance rapid urban redevelopment with the socio-economic stability of the urban poor, preventing the displacement of vulnerable communities. Furthermore, the minister's explicit emphasis on protecting government land during site selection indicates a tighter regulatory approach to prevent the encroachment of public assets, which has been a historical challenge in the region's real estate sector.

The state is already scaling up its efforts, having laid the foundation stone for a pilot project at Red Hills last month, where 480 beneficiaries were selected for towers slated for completion within a year. The successful execution of the current land identification drive and the transparent beneficiary selection processes will be critical in determining the overall timeline and impact of the large-scale housing target across the CURE region.