Centre sets 2029 deadline for Zaheerabad Industrial Smart City

The Central Government of India has set a 2029 deadline for the Telangana government to operationalize the Zaheerabad Industrial Smart City (ZISC) in Sangareddy district. The project, which is part of the National Investment and Manufacturing Zone (NIMZ), spans the Jharasangam and Nyalkal mandals, where the state government is currently struggling to acquire the remaining land due to resistance from local farmers.

The Telangana State Industrial Infrastructure Corporation (TGIIC) is tasked with completing the land acquisition process for the massive industrial zone. Out of the total 12,656 acres planned for the NIMZ Zaheerabad project, the state government has successfully taken over 7,829 acres. However, the acquisition of the remaining 4,826 acres is still pending.

The delay is impacting the crucial Phase I works, which are planned in the villages of Bardhipur, Cheelapally, Yelgoi, Rukmaur, Mungi, and Hadnoor within the Jharasangam and Nyalkal mandals. These Phase I works are essential to launch the ZISC under the Hyderabad-Nagpur Industrial Corridor.

For Phase I, the project requires 4,712 acres of land. While the state has managed to acquire 4,110 acres, the acquisition of the remaining 601 acres remains pending. The state government had to stop the land acquisition process in Yelgoi and Bardipur villages due to stiff resistance from local farmers who are opposing the takeover of their lands.

Despite the ongoing resistance, government officials claim that the standoff in these villages is not a hurdle to going ahead with the project. The planned Phase I works are set to be taken up on 3,245 acres of land at an estimated cost of Rs 2,369 crore.

With the Central Government granting all required approvals and demanding that works be sped up, the state administration is under pressure to meet the 2029 target. The TGIIC must now find a way to resolve the disputes with local landowners to ensure the industrial smart city goes live on schedule.