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Inequalities Hidden in Hyderabad’s Urban Development – The Real Estate Sector

By  T Chiranjeevulu IAS Ret 

Hyderabad, over the past two and a half decades, has witnessed rapid development driven by urbanization, industrialization, the expansion of the IT sector, and the growth of pharmaceutical industries. The city has been expanding in all directions, with a massive demand for land to meet residential, commercial, and industrial needs.

This cycle of development has been manipulated to favor the dominant castes. In particular, they have taken complete control of the real estate sector. Approximately 80% of public representatives, including MLAs, MPs, and corporators, come from a real estate background. These individuals have amassed wealth through real estate, entered politics, and secured political power.

A critical point to note is that since the ruling class also belongs to these dominant castes, they have facilitated massive profit opportunities for the real estate sector through policies such as government orders (GOs), land conversions, and regularizations. Even disputed lands have been regularized by altering regulations with government support, benefiting these groups.The arrival of IT corridors and multinational companies has caused land values to skyrocket. However, the benefits of this development have not been equitably distributed. In the 2023-24 financial year, the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA) alone generated approximately ₹9,900 crore in revenue through registrations. Based on this, it is estimated that Hyderabad’s real estate market is worth around ₹1.5 lakh crore annually. If transactions beyond registrations are included, the total value could reach ₹4.5 lakh crore. It is no exaggeration to say that over 80% of this business is controlled by dominant castes.

Low-cost land acquisitions, investments, insider information, and the caste biases of those in power have become powerful tools in building the real estate empire of the dominant castes. In the past, certain groups, fleeing villages due to fear of Naxalites, purchased land in the city’s outskirts at low prices. Today, these lands are worth crores. There are numerous examples of insider information being leaked, even at the level of chief ministers, to allocate lucrative lands to their caste groups—such as in Cyberabad, the Outer Ring Road, and Yadadri areas, where land prices have surged dramatically.

Major Real Estate Companies – The Influence of Dominant Castes

There are approximately 2,000 real estate companies in Hyderabad. However, the top 50 major companies are predominantly controlled by dominant castes. 

Company Name
Owner
Caste

Aparna Constructions
S.S. Reddy
Reddy

My Home
Jupally Rameshwar Rao
Velama

Raj Pushpa
P. Jayachandra Reddy, Mahender Reddy
Reddy

Ramky
Ayodhya Rami Reddy
Reddy

Vasavi Group
Vijay Kumar
Vaishya

Vamsi
Ram Subba Reddy
Reddy

Phoenix
Chukkapalli Suresh
Kamma

Aditya Homes
Kota Reddy
Reddy

Pranav Group
Boorgula Ravi
Vaishya

DSR Group
Sudhakar Reddy
Reddy

Additionally, real estate companies from other states, such as Prestige, Salarpuria Sattva, and others, are also active in Hyderabad. From the above list, it is evident that Backward Classes (BCs), Scheduled Castes (SCs), and Scheduled Tribes (STs) are barely represented in this sector. In fairness, marginalized communities should have a rightful share in urban development. Unfortunately, caste dominance prevails even in matters of wealth, land, and investment.

The Need for a Social Justice Perspective

To make Hyderabad’s urban development truly democratic, governance must prioritize social justice. There is an urgent need to ensure representation of marginalized communities in urban development, project planning, and land allocation. Clear policies must be introduced to promote social equity in land repurposing, commercial zoning, and housing policies. Without such measures, urban development will continue to perpetuate caste-based wealth concentration.

The only way to change this is to place political power in the hands of the marginalized communities.

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