Revenue, Irrigation Checks Delay LRS Clearances, Upset Applicants
People continue to grapple with delays in the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS), as lakhs of applicants who paid fees last month still await progress on their applications.
Hyderabad:People continue to grapple with delays in the Layout Regularisation Scheme (LRS), as lakhs of applicants who paid fees last month still await progress on their applications. Despite the state government’s assurance to issue LRS proceedings within 15 days of payment, applicants say that their applications remain stuck at the initial 'L1' stage on the official LRS portal.
For an LRS application to be fully processed, it must clear three stages, namely L1, L2, and L3. At L1, the revenue and irrigation departments verify whether the plot falls within prohibited areas and water bodies. At L2, the town planning department scrutinises technical aspects, while L3 involves final approval by Municipal Commissioners and senior officials. However, many applicants claim their applications have not moved beyond L1, even weeks after paying the fees.
Samala Shankar, an applicant from Lingalaghanpur village in Jangaon district, shared his frustration. “I paid `11,251 for regularisation of a 150 square yard plot on March 28 after receiving a fee notice under the 25 per cent rebate offer. Despite regular checks on the LRS portal, my application is still stuck at the L1 stage,” he said. “Before the payment, officials kept calling, assuring me of proceedings within 15 days. Now, there’s total silence.”
The LRS, first launched in August 2020 under the BRS government, aimed to regularise unapproved layouts and open plots. A staggering 25.7 lakh applications were received by October 31, 2020. However, the scheme stalled due to legal complications.
After the Congress government assumed power in December 2023, it revived the LRS scheme, offering a 25 per cent rebate on regularisation and open space charges. The discounted fee window was active from February 21 to March 31, 2025. Out of the 25,67,107 applications, rebate notices were issued to over 20 lakh applicants, yet only around 4 lakh made payments by March 31 deadline.
In GHMC area alone, 1,07,872 applications were received, but just 7,881 applicants paid fees, contributing `103.46 crore to the exchequer. The government extended the fee payment deadline from March 31 to April 30, but with no clarity on proceedings for earlier applicants, enthusiasm remains low.
Despite the extension, the lack of follow-up or progress has dampened public trust. Many applicants who paid as early as February 21 have yet to receive any communication from the government.
As the April 30 deadline approaches, applicants demand transparency and faster processing. With crores of rupees collected, citizens are urging the government to honour its commitment and streamline the process before public confidence erodes further.
