KTR releases MA&UD 10-yr report, says Telangana’s urban flourish is compelling even for BJP’s Centre

HYDERABAD: Even the most vociferous political rival will be compelled to take note of the urban development of Telangana since 2014, said Minister for Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MA&UD) K T Rama Rao (KTR) on Wednesday.

He released the Ten Years (2014-2023) report, titled ‘Driving Growth Through Urbanisation’, at the Metro Bhavan in Rasoolpura.

Elaborating on the salient features of the report, he said that even the BJP Government at the Centre was forced to recognise the achievements made by the Telangana Government in the field of urban development.

KTR informed that the State Government had spent Rs 1,21,294 crore during 2014-23 for the infrastructure and capital investment in Hyderabad and 141 municipalities in Telangana. “This is 462.8 percent more than Rs 26,211.5 crore spent by the then State Government for the period 2004-2014,” he said.

Indicating the paltry financial assistance that the Union Government had given to the young state, he said that out of the Rs 1,21,294 crore, only Rs 9,934 crore which accounted for 8.2 percent, was the Union Government’s share, while 91.8 percent of the money was spent by the state. In the case of GHMC, the spending was up by 850 percent during 2014-2023 when compared to Rs 4,636.38 crore during 2004-2014, KTR added.

“This became possible because GHMC created project-based dedicated special purpose vehicles (SPVs) such as SRDP, CRMP, HRDC and SNDP during 2014-23 and thus bringing dedicated focus on urban infrastructure in Hyderabad,” the MA&UD Minister said. Stressing that the debt availed for urban development had been used for productive purposes, he said that 70 percent of the revenue was created in urban areas.

He added that the total infra spending in Hyderabad and other cities was Rs 1,34,051.28 crore during 2014-23. “This is unprecedented and reaffirms the commitment of the State Government on planned urban growth and development,” the Minister noted.

Comprehensive urban development

Enlisting the steps taken by the State Government for urban development, he said that all 150 wards in GHMC would have ward offices soon to ensure that the administration and grievance redressal mechanism was taken to the doorstep of the citizens.

While stressing the need to create last-mile connectivity of Metro Rail, he said that soon a card system that would allow the commuters to reach home by all available transportation means would be launched. “All preparatory works on Hyderabad Airport Express Metro connecting Raidurg to Shamshabad Airport are completed and tenders for the same have been invited by HMRL,” he said.

The Minister said that 48 different works were undertaken under the Strategic Urban Road Development (SRDP) programme at a cost of Rs 8,052.92 crore of which 35 works were completed at a cost of Rs 3,629.93 crore and the balance of works were in different stages of progress at a cost of Rs 4,422.99 crore.

Under the Comprehensive Road Maintenance Project (CRMP), 930 km of important major arterial roads in Hyderabad were identified and handed over to private infra agencies. This ensured better upkeep of these important roads and a greater level of citizen satisfaction, he said.

KTR added that, after the implementation of the Strategic Nala Development Programme (SNDP), 150 colonies that were prone to inundation during seasonal floods, were protected and another 60 colonies would be protected from this threat very soon. He assured the citizens of Hyderabad that by 2050, there would be a round-the-clock drinking water supply through taps. “Sunkisala lift is 60 percent completed and it could lift and store 60 TMC water exclusively for the twin cities,” KTR said.