Naidu mulls win-win capital deal - TeluguPeople.com News

VISAKHAPATNAM: Grappling with the problem of non-availability of land and funds for the development of the new State capital, the Andhra Pradesh government is planning to replicate the Chandigarh model, which it considers a win-win deal for itself and land owners.

It is learnt to be contemplating relaxation of norms, even going to the extent of giving requisite permissions free of cost for the construction of 'skyscrappers' for both commercial and residential purposes.

The government is keen on following the land pooling system, especially after the visit of the expert committee on the new capital to Chandigarh and Gandhinagar.

Sources told, as per the proposals under consideration, land owners, if they surrender land to the State government, will in turn get a parcel of the same for development ' for which the authorities will give requisite permissions free of cost.

The government believes it is attractive enough: land owners need not pay taxes and the various charges for development of the land returned to them and building permissions too. As an icing on the cake, their plots will be located next to major government offices/buildings.

Sources said while Chandigarh and Gandhinagar both were constructed based on the land pooling system, the State government wants to opt for the Chandigarh model under which about 27.5 per cent of the land was returned to the land owners as against 35 per cent in Gandhinagar.

'Considering the land prices and the need for vast office space, the government wants to opt for the Chandigarh model which was planned to a T,' the sources said. To create a win-win situation for both the government and the land owners, the State government is examining the feasibility of relaxing existing norms for construction of high-rise buildings.

'Though the government would lose lakhs of rupees in revenue for giving permissions free of cost, it would boost real estate and rake in the moolah through VAT and other taxes. Further, it would fuel speedy development of infrastructure in the capital region,' officials opined.

The expert committee is also learnt to be examining the possibility of developing commercial spaces ranging from office spaces for private firms to building hotels and convention centres in the land available after construction of government buildings.

'This model was earlier implemented in Hyderabad by the chief minister over a decade back by roping in private firms on public-private partnership (PPP) or build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. The private firms will be given vacant lands on lease for construction of commercial spaces,' the officials said.