Cash-strapped HMDA to auction plots

HYDERABAD: Running short of cash and in danger of defaulting on payment of salaries, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) has decided to auction as many as 41 plots in the last week of May to raise at least Rs 115 crore.The plots, to be auctioned through e-bidding process, are located in the Miyapur extension layout, Nallagandla residential complex,  Ramchandrapuram, Asifnagar and other areas on the city outskirts. A lone yet big plot measuring 4.975 acres at Nandagiri Hills is also up for sale.Speaking to City Express, HMDA member (estate) P Krishna Mohan Reddy said the five-acre land parcel in Nandagiri Hills will be crucial as a major chunk of revenue is expected from the plots there. Under the circumstances, it will be a jackpot for the HMDA if the land is sold out.The HMDA had on a few occasions sought to auction the plots but the response from bidders was lukewarm due to the high minimum upset price of over Rs 20 crore per acre fixed by the civic body. In the proposed auction too, the minimum upset price has been fixed at Rs 18 crore per acre.Due to severe financial crunch, the HMDA had to go in for open land auctions early this year. Due to the poor response, several plots remained unsold. The “left-over plots”, as they are referred to, are expected to fetch enough funds for the HMDA now to not only pay off salaries but also kick-start a few projects.Several ongoing projects have either been put on hold or are going at a snail’s pace. Among them are the Outer Ring road (ORR), Radial Roads, intermediate ramps along the PV Narasimnha Rao Elevated Expressway, flyovers at Kukatpally, Sports Complex at Kattedan, Modern Bus Terminus at the old Gandhi General Hospital in Secunderabad and a road-over-bridge at the Sanjeevaiah Park.According to officials, the present estimated deficit of HMDA is about Rs 1,200 crore and the civic body is also spending a staggering amount on servicing its debts to the various banks and financial institutions.Neerabh Kumar Prasad, who will be taking charge as Metropolitan Commissioner of HMDA on Saturday, will have several challenges in the days to come and the top priority will be finding a source of income for the civic body. Else, the projects in the pipeline could be in danger of being shelved.