HYDERABAD: The Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HUDA) is changing tack in developing new townships. Instead of the purely residential layouts it had been developing so far, the focus from now on will be on integrated townships.

An integrated township would have an area ranging from 500 to 1,000 acres with residential, commercial, office complexes, multiplexes, entertainment and recreation areas, along with amenities like schools, hospitals and graveyards. It would be a self-sufficient entity generating employment opportunities, HUDA Vice-Chairman Jayesh Ranjan told The Hindu .

As per demand

HUDA would initially develop five out of the 22 new townships announced by it along the162-km Outer Ring Road. "There may not be demand for all the areas straightaway. The townships will be developed as and when the demand picks up," Mr. Ranjan said.

In the first phase, three townships to be developed -- Jawaharnagar, Kokapeta (Rajendranagar) and Nadergul -- would be blocked for those bagging the ORR contract. The remaining two -- Sultanpur and Tellapur in Medak district, would be developed by HUDA.

The development would be in private-public partnership (PPP) and entrusted with the developer who would develop each township by demarcating different zones with his own investment as per the norms and guidelines determined by HUDA.

"If a particular township is found suitable for IT units, a greater percentage of area would be earmarked for them, while in other townships, it may be allotted to engineering or manufacturing units. They could construct their own office complexes or campuses," Mr. Ranjan said.

Surplus to be shared

After the developer recovered his investment by marketing the plots and houses through various agencies, the surplus would be shared between HUDA and the developer in the ratio fixed by the HUDA Board.

Modalities and options for revenue sharing would be discussed in the Board meeting and tenders invited. Plans would be concretised by June, he said.

While HUDA or AP Housing Board Colonies used to be the sought-after areas by the salaried class, the recent auctions of plots in HUDA layouts led to a notion that they were no longer for the middle class.

However, the HUDA Vice-Chairman made it clear that the new layouts would not be for competitive bidding and would have a fixed sale price. The residential complex in each township would have bungalows, MIG, LIG houses and EWS apartments to cater to all budgets.

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