Telangana gives HMDA control over high-rise approvals
HYDERABAD: The state government has introduced key changes in the approval process for high-rise buildings within Greater Hyderabad and the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) limits.
Under Government Order No. 45, the authority to grant permissions for buildings above 10 floors in the jurisdictions of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) and Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC) has been vested with HMDA.
Until now, GHMC granted approvals for high-rise buildings within Greater Hyderabad. The new order restricts local corporations to sanctioning buildings up to 10 floors, while HMDA will clear skyscrapers above that height.
The government clarified that development charges collected during building and layout approvals within the three corporations will be shared with HMDA.
HMDA eyes revenue surge in 2026
Officials estimate that HMDA’s income could increase three to four times in 2026 following the transfer of high-rise approval powers.
In 2025, HMDA earned ₹1,225 crore from building and layout permissions. With the new policy, the authority is expected to gain further strength financially.
Major high-rise projects of 50 to 60 floors coming up in areas such as Kokapet, Tellapur, Gachibowli, Serilingampally and Narsingi under CMC limits, and Medchal, Uppal and Shamirpet under MMC limits, will now fall under HMDA’s purview.
Officials said a large number of applications for high-rise buildings have recently been received from Shamshabad in GHMC limits.
Built-up approvals cross 88 lakh sq m
In the first nine months of 2025 alone, permissions were granted for 88 lakh sq m of built-up area. Officials expect approvals to increase further this year.
So far this year, over 350 fresh permissions have been issued across various categories of construction.
Though the application process slowed temporarily due to GHMC expansion, officials said the new policy would soon boost HMDA’s revenue through high-rise approvals.
