A major government land e-auction is coming up in Visakhapatnam, where 459 land parcels owned by Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, are being offered for outright sale.
The auction is being facilitated by the National Land Monetization Corporation (NLMC), a wholly Government of India-owned company under the Department of Public Enterprises, Ministry of Finance. The complete portfolio covers 93,572.21 sq yd, with individual properties ranging from approximately 128.94 sq yd to 2,728 sq yd.
For residential property buyers, the most important number is not 459 but 456. That is the number of residential MIG/LIG plots located at HB Colony, Maddilapalem. The remaining three properties are situated at Auto Nagar, Gajuwaka.
The Ministry of Finance’s official announcement says these assets are being offered through competitive e-auction with clear and encumbrance-free government titles, subject to the auction terms and conditions.
Is this a new housing scheme?
Not exactly.
This should not be confused with a conventional housing authority scheme where newly developed plots are allotted through a lottery or draw.
Here, existing land assets owned by RINL are being monetised through an outright-sale e-auction. NLMC is facilitating the transaction as part of its mandate to monetise surplus land and other non-core assets belonging to Central Public Sector Enterprises and government entities.
For a buyer, however, the practical opportunity is similar: eligible participants can bid online for individual land parcels, subject to the auction’s eligibility, payment and registration conditions.
PIB describes HB Colony as an established urban neighbourhood with civic and social infrastructure. The plots have concrete approach roads varying from 24 ft to 60 ft, while the location also has proximity to National Highway 16.
This distinction matters because the very large 2,728 sq yd property mentioned in the overall size range is not a typical HB Colony residential plot; it belongs to the Auto Nagar component.
What are the three Auto Nagar properties?
Only three of the 459 properties are at Auto Nagar, Gajuwaka, but they are quite different from the main HB Colony residential inventory.
The government’s 1 September announcement describes the Block 2 parcel as suited to commercial and logistics use and notes that it is approximately 0.5 km from NH-16. The other two Auto Nagar properties are residential plots located in Block 3.
Therefore, describing the auction as “459 residential plots” would be incorrect.
The more accurate description is:
459 RINL land parcels, including 456 residential plots at HB Colony and three properties at Auto Nagar.
When will the 459 RINL plots be auctioned?
The newer Ministry of Finance update dated 17 September 2026 confirms this breakup. Prospective bidders must complete registration, KYC formalities and EMD payment within the deadline applicable to the auction batch in which their chosen plot is included.
₹2 lakh EMD per plot
The Earnest Money Deposit has been fixed at:
₹2,00,000 per plot.
This is the participation deposit and should not be confused with the property’s reserve price or final acquisition cost.
The official PIB updates confirm the ₹2 lakh EMD and state that registration, KYC and EMD must all be completed within the prescribed timeline.
Where will the online auction take place?
The auctions will be conducted through the RailTel E-Nivida e-Procurement Platform.
NLMC’s official notification page also lists a dedicated “Brochure for RINL Land E-Auction, Visakhapatnam | Explore 459 Land Parcels/Plots” along with the formal RFP issued for sale of RINL’s freehold land parcels in Visakhapatnam.
The official auction portal should be used for the final property catalogue, registration process, bid submission and latest auction documents.
Open the official RailTel E-Nivida auction portal
NLMC announces three Investor Meets before the auction
A significant update came on 17 September 2026, when NLMC announced three Investor Meets before the October auctions.
These meetings are intended to help prospective bidders, investors and developers understand the portfolio, registration requirements, bidding process and other auction conditions. They also provide an opportunity to seek clarification before participating.
For anyone seriously considering one of these plots, these meetings may therefore be useful before committing EMD or entering the bidding process.
What are the reserve prices?
This is an important point.
The two PIB announcements do not provide one common reserve rate such as ₹X per sq yd for all 459 properties.
Instead, the 17 September release says that detailed information regarding individual plots, reserve prices, eligibility, registration requirements, bidding process and terms and conditions is available through the official auction documents.
NLMC’s official tender page confirms that an RFP for sale of the freehold RINL land parcels/plots in Visakhapatnam was issued on 31 August 2026, followed by a corrigendum dated 9 September 2026.
Therefore, buyers should not use a general market rate or assume that all HB Colony plots have the same reserve price. The exact plot-wise reserve price should be checked in the latest official auction schedule.
Why plot size needs careful checking?
The headline size range of 128.94 sq yd to 2,728 sq yd covers the complete portfolio, including the very large Auto Nagar property.
It does not mean the 456 residential plots at HB Colony are evenly distributed across that entire range.
Frequently asked questions
How many RINL plots are being auctioned in Visakhapatnam?
The complete portfolio contains 459 land parcels/properties spread over 93,572.21 sq yd.
Are all 459 properties residential?
No. 456 are residential MIG/LIG plots at HB Colony, Maddilapalem. Three properties are at Auto Nagar, including a 2,728 sq yd parcel positioned for commercial/logistics use and two residential plots.
What is the EMD?
The published EMD is ₹2 lakh per plot.
When will bidding take place?
The first auction covers 243 properties on 12 October 2026, while the second covers 216 properties on 16 October 2026.
What is the smallest plot?
Across the complete portfolio, individual properties start at approximately 128.94 sq yd.
What is the largest parcel?
The largest size mentioned in the government release is approximately 2,728 sq yd, corresponding to the major Auto Nagar Block 2 parcel.
Where can buyers check individual reserve prices?
The plot-wise reserve prices and detailed conditions should be checked in the latest official RINL/NLMC auction documents available through NLMC and the RailTel E-Nivida platform.
Sources:-
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance — 1 September 2026:
NLMC to Facilitate E-Auction of 459 RINL Land Parcels in Visakhapatnam
Press Information Bureau, Ministry of Finance — 17 September 2026:
NLMC to Organise Investor Meets Ahead of RINL Land E-Auction
National Land Monetization Corporation: The official notifications page lists the 459-property RINL auction brochure, while the tender section lists the 31 August 2026 RFP and 9 September corrigendum.
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