24 June, Posted at 10:14 AM IST
Hyderabad: A major development has emerged in the Raidurg land dispute in Hyderabad, with the State Bank of India (SBI) reportedly considering the withdrawal of its petition pending before the Telangana High Court. The move is expected to pave the way for an amicable settlement between the bank and the state government.
According to sources familiar with the matter, the development follows a recent meeting between senior Telangana government officials and Chief Secretary K. Ramakrishna Rao. The discussions reportedly focused on resolving the dispute through an alternative land allotment arrangement.
As part of the proposed settlement, SBI is believed to have agreed to accept an alternative parcel of land measuring nearly 2.5 acres. While neither the state government nor the bank has issued an official statement, officials indicate that the proposal has received positive consideration from both sides.
The next hearing before the Telangana High Court is expected to provide greater clarity on the matter. Legal observers believe that if SBI formally withdraws its petition, it could significantly alter the course of the dispute and help avoid litigation.
The Raidurg area, located in Hyderabad’s western corridor near the Information Technology hub, has witnessed tremendous growth over the past two decades. The region has become one of the most valuable real estate destinations in the country due to its proximity to HITEC City, Gachibowli, Financial District, and major IT companies.
The controversy gained widespread attention after the Telangana government auctioned a portion of the Raidurg land at a record price of approximately ₹237 crore per acre. The auction became one of the highest land transactions recorded in India and highlighted the enormous commercial value of government land in Hyderabad’s IT corridor.
At the same time, sections of the Urdu media and several community organizations have raised concerns regarding the ownership status of parts of the disputed land. Reports have referred to earlier Waqf Board records and notifications that allegedly identify portions of Survey No. 83 as Waqf property associated with Jamia Nizamia.
Representatives associated with Jamia Nizamia have previously maintained that certain parcels of land historically belonged to the institution and should be protected under Waqf regulations. However, the exact legal status of these claims remains subject to judicial and administrative examination.
Mohammed Naseer Giyas is a multi-media and bilingual journalist with over 20 years of experience across print, digital, and television media. Founder of Raftaar-e-Deccan, he is an alumnus of IVLP, Thomson Reuters Foundation, and ICFJ, and has worked with leading English and Urdu news organisations.
