Despite merger, building approval revenue in CURE sees only marginal rise

Hyderabad: Even after 17 municipalities were merged into three corporations — Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), Cyberabad Municipal Corporation (CMC), and Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation (MMC) — revenue from building approvals in the Telangana Core Urban Region (CURE) increased only marginally.The erstwhile GHMC, comprising six zones over 650 sq km, generated ₹1,138 crore from building permits in 2024–25. In comparison, the expanded CURE, now with 12 zones, recorded ₹1,172 crore in 2025–26. However, this still marks a sharp decline of about ₹282 crore compared to 2022–23.Of 15,536 building permissions issued in 2025–26, the majority were processed through the instant approval system, which handled 12,014 cases. The single-window clearance system accounted for 2,515 approvals, primarily for larger projects, while 972 permissions were granted via instant registration. Notably, CMC contributed the largest share, generating 45% of total revenue.Civic officials noted that most approvals now occur beyond GHMC limits due to limited construction space in the core city. Meanwhile, construction activity is largely concentrated in the western corridor. In fact, previously merged municipalities were authorised to approve buildings only up to 10 floors, while high-rise approvals remained under the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), limiting their revenue potential.Meanwhile, GHMC has digitised its building permission system through the BuildNow portal, covering occupancy certificates and layout approvals. Instant approvals apply to individual residential buildings on plots between 75 and 600 square yards, with heights up to 10 metres. Post-approval verification is conducted before issuing a work commencement letter.Under the single-window system, approvals are required for residential buildings on plots exceeding 500 square metres or heights above 10 metres, as well as all non-residential developments—such as high-rises, group housing, apartment complexes, and multiplexes—that require multiple no-objection certificates (NOCs). This system enables applicants to obtain building permission orders directly through the online portal.