Telangana LRS, BPS files remain stalled across state
HYDERABAD: The prolonged wait for lakhs of applicants under the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) and Building Penalisation Scheme (BPS) continues across Telangana, as procedural delays, poor departmental coordination, technical bottlenecks and allegations of corruption have pushed citizens into distress.
LRS, BPS stuck despite fee collections
BPS files have remained stalled since 2015 due to litigation in the Supreme Court and High Court. LRS, reopened in 2020, has seen similar disorder. Of the 25.67 lakh LRS applications received statewide, a large number remain unresolved even after applicants paid regularisation fees between February and June this year. Within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits alone, 1.39 lakh citizens applied under BPS.
Despite the government collecting hundreds of crores in application and regularisation fees, applicants say they have been left without clarity or progress.
Applicants say no movement even after payments
The state government announced a 25% rebate on LRS fees in February 2025 to encourage applicants to clear dues. The original deadline of March 11 was extended multiple times till June 30.
The previous government had invited LRS applications from August 31 to October 31, 2020, receiving 25.44 lakh applications: 10.76 lakh from panchayats, 10.54 lakh from municipalities and 4.13 lakh from municipal corporations. GHMC alone received 1 lakh applications; Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation received 1.01 lakh; Khammam Municipal Corporation received 50,000.
The state collected nearly ₹200 crore through application fees alone ₹1,000 for small plots and ₹10,000 for larger ones. Soon after, the process was halted citing legal issues. It remained suspended until February 2025, when the new government resumed it with a 25% rebate.
Applicants say the government had promised to issue proceedings within 15 days of payment in February 2025, but even after eight months, most have not received them. The official portal shows a majority of applications stuck at first level verification (L1) by revenue and irrigation officials, who must certify whether plots fall in prohibited zones or water bodies. L2 scrutiny by town planning authorities and final approvals by municipal commissioners have seen minimal movement.
Departments blamed; bribery complaints surface
Applicants allege lack of coordination between municipal, revenue and irrigation departments. Despite payments being accepted after scrutiny, departments allegedly provide no updates. Applicants say officials often shift responsibility and do not communicate whether personal visits are required. In April 2025, the government issued notices to 20,00,403 LRS applicants to pay regularisation and pro-rata open space charges. Only 3,25,538 paid by May.
Of the total 25,67,107 applications statewide, around one lakh were rejected on technical grounds. Even among fee-paying applicants, proceedings remain pending in most cases, prompting criticism of administrative apathy. Official sources said only about 20% of applicants have received proceedings so far. Applicants report that revenue and irrigation officials have kept thousands of files pending for months, stating that applicants have not approached them. Applicants counter that they were never informed.
Very low clearance rates across municipalities
HMDA received 3.60 lakh LRS applications from 1,200 villages. Only 70,000 paid fees, and barely 20% have received proceedings. HMDA has issued just 8,706 orders. In Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation, only 11,000 of 72,196 fee-paying applicants received proceedings. In Turkayamjal municipality, only 3,000 of 40,881 applicants got approvals. Pedda Amberpet issued just 2,000 proceedings out of 34,776 payments.
In Khammam, 2,800 of 29,321 applicants received proceedings; in Karimnagar, 1,500 of 24,020; in Suryapet, 3,925 of 31,940; and in Choutuppal municipality, only about 10% of applicants received their orders. Applicants allege deliberate delays in revenue and irrigation clearances, leading to files piling up across municipal and gram panchayat offices. Reports of bribery are widespread, with applicants claiming that some officials clear files within a week if paid around ₹10,000 directly or through intermediaries.
Rebate extended, but applicants question purpose
To ease the burden, the government extended the rebate deadline for LRS regularisation charges and pro-rata open space charges until July 1, 2025, offering a 15% rebate for payments made before the deadline. Applicants, however, question the relevance of rebates when basic proceedings are not being issued months after payments.
With delays, departmental blame-shifting and corruption allegations rising, lakhs of applicants across Telangana remain uncertain when or whether their LRS and BPS applications will be regularised.
Government paused LRS process soon after collecting crores in fees
- The previous BRS government invited Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS) applications from August 31 to October 31, 2020.
- Shortly after collecting application fees, the government halted the process citing legal issues.
- A total of 25.4 lakh applications were received 10.7 lakh from panchayats, 10.5 lakh from municipalities and 4.1 lakh from municipal corporations.
- In GHMC limits, 1 lakh applications were filed; Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation received 1.01 lakh; and Khammam Municipal Corporation received 50,000.
- The state earned nearly ₹250 crore through application fees alone, with applicants paying ₹1,000 for small plots and ₹10,000 for larger ones.
