Municipal Authorities Send Notices to LRS Applicants in Hyderabad
The municipal authorities in Hyderabad have sent notices to more than 14.9 lakh applicants out of the 25 lakh people who applied for the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) in the state. Although helpdesks have been set up in zonal offices, the process is still slow in the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) areas. With only a few weeks left before the deadline, many applicants are still waiting for their layouts to be regularised.
The LRS scheme was introduced in 2020 but remained pending for four years. After the Congress government revived the process, 25 lakh applications were received from across the state. Once applicants complete the official process and pay the required fee, they will receive approval for regularisation. Officials estimate that around five lakh applicants will receive fee concessions, particularly in open space charges.
A senior official revealed that about 2.5 lakh applications are for lands in restricted areas, such as near lakes and water bodies. Some applicants have sought regularisation for plots located within 200 meters of these water sources. A team of revenue and irrigation officials is reviewing these cases. Additionally, five to six lakh applications have discrepancies in land rates and registration values. These cases have been forwarded to the Registration and Stamps Department for verification. Once the verification is complete, notices will be sent to these applicants as well. Officials estimate that the scrutiny process for lands near lakes and water bodies will take around ten more days.
The deadline for LRS payment is March 31. Applicants can avail a 25% concession in open space charges if they make the payment before the deadline. However, if they choose to pay during the construction phase, they will not receive this discount. The LRS process has gained momentum after officials conducted awareness campaigns to encourage citizens to complete the regularisation process.
While the process is moving quickly in districts, it is still slow in GHMC and HMDA areas despite awareness efforts, including helpdesks and a toll-free number at zonal commissioner offices. Officials believe this delay may be due to the ongoing property tax collection drive by the Corporation. They have urged city applicants to complete the LRS process before the deadline, as there will be no extensions in the future.
