The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued an official order granting working permission and approving the transfer of defence land to the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) for the construction of elevated corridors under the Strategic Road Development Project (SRDP) within Secunderabad Cantonment limits.

This move follows the recent Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the MoD and the Telangana government, wherein 65.038 acres of defence land will be handed over to the state in exchange for 435 acres of state land. As per Tuesday’s order, the MoD has approved the transfer of 2,26,039.91 sq. mtrs. of defence land along National Highway-44 and 4,59,222.70 sq. mtrs. along State Highway-1 (SH-1) to HMDA. The transfer will be executed in exchange for Equal Value Land (EVL) and a cash compensation of Rs 748.58 crore.

A formal MoU will be signed between the Indian Army and the CEO of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board to address EVL allocation and any project cost escalations. In addition, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved the allocation of Rs 303 crore—deposited by the Telangana government, to be used for development works within the Secunderabad Cantonment area.