At HMDA, cash crunch sees projects stranded
The HMDA is sitting on nine mega projects for want of funding. It has only managed to take forward two logistic parks — at Batasingaram and Mangalpally.
Sources say the other projects will never see light, going by the HMDA’s finances. The authority is contemplating referring thes proposals to the government for budgetary allocation.
The HMDA is expecting the Budget to allocate at least `1,000 crore for the pending proposals, which are worth `1,600 crore.
This fiscal, the HMDA expected `100 crore for the inter-city bus terminal (ICBT) at Miyapur, `125 crore for the Hyderabad Habitat Centre, `134 crore for the nodal development centre at Khanamet in Madhapur, `176 crore for the 350-acre IT Park at Budvel in Ranga Reddy district to relieve pressure on the IT hubs, and `100 crore for the 85-acre eco park at Kothwalguda.
Besides this, within the HMDA budget, the municipal authority sought `915.16 crore for the Outer Ring Road (ORR). Work on five packages has been completed and money has to be released on an annuity basis to the concessionaires. This would amount to `332.58 crore annually.
The development of R&R layout at Koheda, its construction and supervision would require `250 crore.
A senior official said the HMDA was relying on the government for four special allocations in the past five annual budgets but little money was forthcoming. The authority has sent proposals worth `10,000 crore in the past four years but the government has allocated not more than `1,000 crore.
“Unlike the GHMC, we have less of revenue sources. If the government does not come to our rescue, the long-pending projects would never take off,” the official said.
KRR Infra, which wone the ICBT project, did not submit the bank guarantee for `14.8 crore in time. “The project is on for sure. There are two options; give additional time to the company or invite a new party,” said an official.
The Hyderabad Habitat Centre (HHC) at Izzatnagar, modelled on the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi, is on hold for four years. “The land is under mortgage to a bank and the proposal requires revision,” the official said.
The nodal development centre was modelled on the lines of those in Chicago and New York, to accelerate development, create employment and stimulate growth. It has not moved in three years.
This apart, the decadeold Musi riverfront development and beautification project could hardly see progress. Despite forming the Musi Riverfront Development Corporation and earmarking `1,665 crore, the HMDA has neither diverted effluents nor removed encroachments.
Though there were High Court directions, officials have shelved the project, claiming the government had asked for it to do so. For three years, the corporation has been paying staff salaries of `3.15 crore annually. There was an allocation of `754 crore but no money was given.