Andhra Pradesh Unveils Guidelines for Land Pooling Scheme-II to Expand Capital Region

The Andhra Pradesh government has officially released the guidelines for its Land Pooling Scheme-II (LPS-II), targeting the acquisition of 40,000 to 45,000 acres to support the next phase of capital city expansion.

The rollout comes after grama sabhas were held in Tadikonda and Pedakurapadu constituencies, marking the early groundwork for the voluntary land acquisition initiative. LPS-II aims to facilitate large-scale infrastructure projects, including an international airport, a sports city, and modern industrial zones as part of the state’s ambitious vision for a world-class capital.

LPS-II closely follows the framework of the earlier Land Pooling Scheme (LPS-I), which was launched nearly a decade ago. Despite unresolved concerns from some farmers affected by LPS-I, the government is moving forward, aiming to include new areas surrounding the existing 29 capital region villages under the revamped scheme.

“This scheme is entirely voluntary and based on mutual consensus between landowners and the government,” said Principal Secretary S. Suresh Kumar. “Our goal is to build infrastructure while ensuring landowners are treated fairly and transparently.”

As per the newly issued guidelines, the pooled land will be allocated as follows: 10% will be reserved for open spaces, 30% for roads and utilities, and 5% each for social infrastructure and affordable housing. The remaining land will be shared between the original landowners and the Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA). Special provisions are included for zones designated specifically for infrastructure development.

Officials hope that LPS-II will strike a balance between urban growth and community interests, particularly in the context of developing strategic infrastructure without resorting to forced acquisition.

With the capital city expansion plans gaining momentum, the success of LPS-II will depend on trust-building with landowners and effective implementation by the CRDA. All eyes are now on how the state navigates the complex task of urban expansion while addressing concerns from past land pooling efforts.