Government hikes development charges

Puts land owners into dilemma

The State Government has hiked the Development Charges with effective from August 13, 2007. This decision results in hundreds of landowners residing in the limits of Municipal Corporations and Urban Development Authorities (UDA) in the State in a piquant situation. Nearly 1,500 landowners who paid the necessary amount for getting building permissions prior to hiking development charges will now have pay charges as per the new tariff.

The State Government has issued orders enhancing the development charges by four to five times relating to residential, commercial and recreational use. The officials however failed to release their building plans so far and instead asked the applicants to pay additional amount in accordance with the revised development charges if they want their building plans approved. Before issuance of the GO, Urban Development Authorities were collecting Rs.22 per sq.mt and with the issuance of the GO it is now Rs.100 per sq.mt.

The revised rates will be applicable to GHMC, HUDA, Cyberabad Development Authority and Budda Purnima Project Authority, Vijayawada, Guntur, Tenali, Mangalagiri Urban Development Authority and Tirupati Urban Development Authority.