The town planning wing of Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) should file a caveat soon after issuing notification for acquisition of properties for road-widening to avoid people getting stay orders, GHMC mayor M Majid Hussain has said.

The mayor who held a review meeting with town planning officials in his chambers on Thursday said road-widening is getting delayed because of litigation.

The GHMC is spending about Rs 294 crore for flyovers, RoBs and RuBs, Rs 94 crore for developing link roads and Rs 225 crore on road-widening works. He told the officials to confiscate properties if owners do not come forward for negotiated settlements.

However, the mayor told GHMC commissioner MT Krishna Babu to negotiate with the those concerned while acquiring properties. Officials should take the help of public representatives for negotiations, he said.

The mayor has sought an explanation from officials over the revalidation a number of cheques related to land acquisition and directed them to set deadlines for revalidation.

He directed the officials to despatch all the cheques that are ready within 10 days.