HUDA to take over Hussainsagar projects

By V.N. Harinath

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 22. All the projects on the foreshore of the Hussainsagar lake, which are to be taken up by the Tourism Department, will be entrusted to the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority.

A G.O. to this effect is expected to be issued shortly, HUDA officials told The Hindu on Saturday. The projects lined up are I-max Theatre, Ocean World, Food Courts, Landscape Garden, Amusement Park, People's Plaza and Promonade.

The Government's thinking was made clear recently by the Chief Minister, Mr. N. Chandrababu Naidu, himself, during a surprise visit to the Old City. Mr. Naidu is stated to have expressed surprise in meetings with officials that the order had not yet been issued despite his announcement during the visit.

The Government has plumped for HUDA as the latter has already, in its fold, several projects like the Necklace road, Lumbini Park, NTR Gardens, Indira Park and Sanjeevaiah Park. Besides, it has the required wherewithal, including the staff, for taking up the necessary work. Looking at the HUDA track record it could do a better job, according to sources.

Although Tourism Department officials, including the Minister, Mr. E. Peddi Reddy, never let go an opportunity to talk at length about the impending projects worth several hundred crores and the huge investments they are likely to attract, the fact that the projects mostly involve private participation appears to have turned the Government thinking in favour of the HUDA.

Meanwhile, the fate of the Buddha Purnima Development Authority, which did not take off as envisaged, remains unclear. Officials feel either it may be scrapped or a Managing Director posted under the HUDA to look after it or the Government may appoint a special officer.

With the A.P. High Court dismissing two writ petitions filed in the first week of July by Bajaj Electricals, complaining that officials were trying to create a monopoly for Philips India in the garden lighting sector, the way has been cleared for resumption of work on the NTR Gardens.

The petitioner had opposed the stand taken by officials that only Philips-made material should be used for lighting in the gardens and other parks, terming it `arbitrary' and `mala fide'.

According to a senior HUDA official, but for the pending petitions the work on the NTR Gardens could have been completed by now. Originally, the garden was scheduled to be thrown open to the public by August 15. Now, HUDA officials are trying to expedite the work so that it is completed by next two months. The Government plans to inaugurate the park on November 1, the State Formation Day.

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