The Hindu 09.08.2010
Challenges await new HMDA chief
T.Lalith Singh
HYDERABAD: Near empty coffers, no real signs of funds coming its way, several projects including Outer Ring Road (ORR) struggling behind deadlines for completion and in fact, not even an own building to house its various operation under single roof. That’s the status of Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) as the new chief took it over.
Rajeswar Tiwari has a host of challenges lined up for him as the once high profile Authority lost its sheen in the aftermath of real estate crash and struggles to manage funds. His predecessor, B.P. Acharya too waded through similar adversity during his short tenure of eight months but did come up with initiatives that promise to usher in some relief for the HMDA in coming months.
The move to go in for auction of unsold plots after reducing the baseline price and getting the same tied-up with loans at reduced interest rates did help and Mr. Acharya’s efforts to tap assistance from HUDCO at a lower interest rate offered some respite. Senior officials with the HMDA concede that Mr. Acharya instead of going on a new projects announcement spree did well to channel entire focus on reviving the coffers.
Some of the features of Mr. Acharya’s tenure included the shaping of Lake Protection Committee, due attention on traffic and transportation, ushering in a more user-friendly approach in transactions and exploring different solutions to provide financial stability to the HMDA.
The new Metropolitan Commissioner has almost the same set of situations confronting him. While the progress of ORR has been dragging on for quite some time despite deadlines getting postponed, the list of projects that were announced but yet to be initiated is also a bit long. The work on central office complex for which grand plans were announced is yet to take off and if there is hardly any progress on its proposals such as underwater aquarium at Miralam Tank and flyover at Sanjeevaiah Park still awaited.
