Wednesday, September 06, 2006
Update on Hyderabad Uppal area
| Real estate can bloom in Uppal. But, stinking Musi, bad roads and pollution have to be dealt with. And neighbouring Habsiguda gives it a complex too. |
Till a few years ago, real estate dealers used to find it hard to get clients buy land in Uppal. Even builders were not very keen on the area. However, things have undergone a sea change of late.
The expansion of IT giant GE, construction of Uppal cricket stadium, spurt in commercial establishments including malls and large number of educational institutions have played a major role in the increase of real estate prices.
The recent signing of MoU between State Government and Raheja group to launch an IT park in Medipally and the presence of top scientific research institutes is further fuelling the real estate prices here.
However realty dealers have a word of caution. While Habsiguda is well developed in terms of infrastructure, developmental activities in Uppal are still in its nascent stage.
Air and ground water pollution, due to heavy vehicular movement and the proximity to a polluted Musi, continues to be a major deterrent in the overall growth of Uppal as a prime destination for developers.
Rate check
At the moment, a square yard in Habsiguda starts from Rs.15,000 and goes up to Rs.30,000 in colonies like Kakatiyanagar which are well connected with the main road. In Uppal, the cost of a square yard is between Rs 7,500 and Rs.15,000 depending on the locality.
A 2-bed room deluxe flat fetches a rent of Rs. 4,000 to Rs.5,000 while a 3-bed room apartment costs in excess of Rs.6,000.
"HUDA's plan to acquire 800 acres of land along the Musi for development under Green City project has been stalled. Also, several colonies here do not have connecting roads to the Uppal main road. If these two problems are solved then there is no looking back for this place," said a local real estate dealer M. A. Raja.
Rent on the up
With GE alone employing about 4,000 employees in its facilities, hunting for a rented apartment has become a big challenge here.
Rentals in Habsiguda and Tarnaka are saturated. While the municipality officials have just managed to complete
underground drainage system in Uppal, internal roads and pollution-free environment are still distant dreams.
Water woes
"Pollution and bad roads here sometimes discourage people from purchasing houses. Hundreds of lorries come from Secunderabad and Hyderabad to Uppal cross roads to go towards Warangal highway. Musi's stench is also a major dampener," said TDP Uppal town president and Uppal Merchants Association President B. Hanumantha Rao.
"By December this year, water problem in Uppal will be solved with the construction of three water holding reservoirs. We are also in the process of laying CC roads in colonies under various State and Central Government projects," said Uppal Municipal Commissioner M.S.S. Somraju.
