HYDERABAD: Almost a year after the state government announced the ambitious Bharat Future City project, real estate developers seem to be proceeding with caution. Most investment is limited to select areas along the Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar highways, while others wait for clearer direction on the city’s development plans.
Since the announcement of Bharat Future City, the Future City Development Authority (FCDA) has received approximately 80 applications for open plots and 10 proposals for housing projects, including gated communities. However, only 18 layouts have been approved so far, with several remaining pending due to various issues, including documentation deficiencies and compliance requirements. Reports indicate about 20 applications have been awaiting clearance for months.
According to officials, developer interest is focused on a few villages along the Srisailam Highway, including Lemuru, Kandukur, Thummalur, and Kadthal, as well as Yacharam on the Nagarjuna Sagar Highway. The majority of approved layouts are relatively small, ranging from nine to 10 acres.
The FCDA has also received 281 building applications within its jurisdiction, with nearly 90% related to individual building permits, while a few involve high-rise projects in areas like Tukkuguda and Adibatla.
“The real estate market is experiencing a slump, leading developers to prefer safer locations for their projects. Future City, being an emerging area with limited activity—mostly in pockets like Meerkhanpet, Kandukur, and Yacharam—has made many large developers cautious. A lot are waiting for the master plan to get an understanding of the development strategy,” stated the president of a realtors’ association to TOI.
Industry sources reveal that many developers are taking a wait-and-see approach until the government provides a clearer picture of the city’s infrastructure and growth pathways. Last month, the FCDA appointed a consultant to create the master plan for Bharat Future City, a process expected to take about nine months. The state government has set aside nearly 30,000 acres for the project, including around 14,000 acres designated for specialized developments like an AI City, a life sciences hub, and a sports ecosystem.
Meanwhile, some developers have voiced concerns over delays in obtaining layout and building approvals, attributing the slow process to staffing shortages within the FCDA. Complaints regarding delays, especially for layouts over 10 acres, have even reached the chief minister’s office. Currently, the FCDA operates with a limited team of two assistant city planners and one deputy city planner under a director, raising doubts about its ability to manage the increasing number of applications tied to one of Telangana’s major urban development initiatives.
