Housing board in state of inactivity

Extent proposed for new colonies

1. Kukatpally         80 Acres
2. Bandlaguda        10 acres
3. Kowkoor          17 acres
4. Thatti Annaram  30 acres
5. Bachupally          90 acres
6. Borampet          20 acres
7. Pocharam          35 acres
8. Vatti Nagulapally    50 acres
9. Manganpally        19 acres

Metro India News | Hyderabad 

Once a vibrant organization that provided affordable housing to thousands, the Telangana Housing Board is now facing complete neglect and inactivity in the separate Telangana state. For the past 12 years, the Board has not received government permission to develop even a single new colony, leading to a situation where it has virtually no work and risks becoming entirely powerless. In the united Andhra Pradesh era, the Housing Board developed more than 200 colonies across the state, including major projects in Kukatpally and Moulali.

Before the state bifurcation in 2014, it developed 550 plots in Raviral village of Ranga Reddy district and constructed an apartment complex in Kukatpally. Notifications were issued for 270 plots, and the projects were completed and handed over to beneficiaries in 2016.However, after the formation of Telangana in 2014, the Board has not issued a single new notification or taken up any fresh venture. The Housing Board traditionally developed colonies under LIG (Low Income Group), MIG (Middle Income Group), and HIG (High Income Group) categories, providing plots along with constructed houses at affordable prices to common and middle-class people.

The Housing Board owns around 2,600 acres of land across the state, with the majority located in Hyderabad, erstwhile Ranga Reddy, Nalgonda, and Mahbubnagar districts. Most of the land in Ranga Reddy district lies within the Outer Ring Road (ORR) periphery, making it highly valuable — worth thousands of crores of rupees today. Key areas with Board land include: Bahadurpally, Kokapet, Abdullapurmet, Mangalagiri, Thatti Annaram, Azeemnagar, Raviral, Chintal, Wattinagulapally, Koukour, Raidurgam, Gachibowli, Nizampet, Pocharam, Bachupally, Gajularamaram, and Kothagudem.

Officials admit that some parcels of land have been encroached upon. The previous government did not allocate even a single rupee for fencing or compound walls to protect vacant lands. 

Although the Board used its own funds to erect fences in some places, encroachments still occurred in certain areas. It is also learnt that the government has taken over some Housing Board land in Siddipet and Suryapet districts for the construction of double-bedroom houses without providing equivalent land elsewhere or paying market-value compensation.

Origins of the Housing Board date back to 1911 during the Nizam’s rule. Following devastating floods of the Musi River that rendered thousands homeless, the Nizam’s government established the City Improvement Board (CIB) to provide housing for the displaced. After independence and the formation of Andhra Pradesh, it became the Andhra Pradesh Housing Board. Following the 2014 bifurcation, it was reconstituted as the Telangana Housing Board. The newly elected Congress government has raised fresh hopes for the revival of the Housing Board. Officials say the government is expected to release funds for fencing and compound walls around vacant lands and is also planning to develop townships.

If the Board is given opportunities in these projects, it could deliver justice to economically weaker sections. The Board has already submitted proposals to the government to divide vacant land in prime areas into plots, develop colonies, and sell them. 

However, permission is still awaited. Board officials say they are ready to begin work as soon as approvals are granted. Plans include developing plots of 600 square feet for LIG, 1,000 square feet for MIG, and above 1,000 square feet for HIG categories.