The Times of India         19.11.2010

HMDA's master plan for Jawaharnagar

HYDERABAD: Giving emphasis on development, a special regional master plan has been prepared exclusively for Jawaharnagar area by the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).

The plan, prepared by Ahmedabad-based Centre for Environmental Planning and Technology (Cept), was submitted to the urban development authority recently. The report would be scrutinised by planning officials and placed before the HMDA board for approval. Ironically, the plan was submitted by CEPT a month ago, but the report got gutted in a fire accident at HMDA's Outer Ring Road office in Tarnaka. The CEPT was then requested to provide another copy of the report.

Jawaharnagar covers about 15,000 acres and Bits-Pilani, Hyderabad campus, Bio-Tech Park, Meditech Valley are all located here. Sources said the entire area would be divided into commercial-cum-IT zone, financial district, residential, multiple-use and recreational zone. Bio-tech offices zone would also be part of the master plan.

According to officials, the master plan covers 12 villages around Jawaharnagar and might impact a population of 10 lakh spread over 15,000 acres. The HMDA wants to develop the area by preparing a special regional master plan on the lines of Cyberabad Development Authority (CDA) and Hyderabad Airport Development Authority (Hada), which were later merged in the Authority.

The state government owns nearly 2,000 acres in the area, including the GHMC dump yard, but some portion of it is under dispute or has been encroached upon. Secretariat employees have been given 600 acres land in Jawaharnagar.

Sources said the plan would throw light on the overall development of the area and also promote 'walk to work' concept, where office spaces and residential areas are located close by.

Like other master plans, special provisions for land development, metro rail, transferable development rights (TDR), where the land owner can make use of the benefits of extra built up area anywhere in the city if he loses land for roads, are part of the master plan.

"All measures will be taken to protect environment and conservation of lakes. No hazardous industries will be allowed in the area," a senior HMDA official said