Hyderabad
Own building for US Consulate in Hyderabad is getting ready in 12.2 acres area and at an expense of Rs. 2,251 crore. Arrangements are being made to make the consulate operational on its own premises from November this year. This will increase the number of visa appointments and the number of interview centers (windows).
The passport return period after visa approval will be further reduced. The consulate has been operating since 2008 at the Paigah Palace in Hyderabad. The state government has allotted 12.2 acres of land for its own building at Nanakramguda. The main building covers an area of 17,917 square meters. Construction work, which has been going on for three years, will be completed soon.
The number of interview centers will increase to an additional 40. The number of applicants allowed for interviews will also increase. The consulate is setting up 225 desks to expedite the visa-issuance process. This new building will also expand facilities for applicants.
The construction is going by American construction standards. The U.S. Department of State Overseas Buildings Operations Division scrutinizes everything from designs to construction standards. A mechanical system is being set up to reduce power consumption by 50 percent over a normal building. Water consumption will also decrease by 81.72 percent. There will be a water conservation system to conserve rainwater.