Real estate plummets by 28 percent following Congress' rise to power in Karnataka: KTR

HYDERABAD: There's a 28 percent drop in the construction and real estate industry after the Congress came to power in Karnataka, said BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) on Friday.

KTR shared his vision for Hyderabad and a plan of action that the BRS Government intended to implement after forming the Government for the third time on December 3, 2023, while speaking at the 'Real Estate Summit' in Hyderabad.

When asked about the Congress Government in Karnataka, KTR asked the people to look at what was going on in Bangalore. He claimed that the construction and real estate industries in Karnataka fell by 28 percent after the Congress came to power. He said that a stable government and an able leadership could only keep the progress going.

“If you want to enjoy your holidays and the boom of the industry, don't give us a holiday. Encourage a Government which is working for the welfare of all,” KTR said.

Talking about the three prominent Chief Ministers the Telugu states had, KTR said that Chandrababu Naidu Government from 1999 - 2004 was pro-IT and Hyderabad, and YS Rajashekar Reddy Government from 2004 - 2009 was pro-rural, agriculture and poor. Since 2004, Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) maintained a unique balance promoting pro-urban, pro-rural, agriculture, pro-business, and pro-poor, pro-progressive policies, he added.

KTR spoke about the Telangana model which was a holistic, integrated, inclusive, and balanced model. He said that the BRS Government introduced policies and schemes keeping in mind rural and urban development, industry and environment, agriculture, and information technology.

KTR said that it was this Telangana model that brought a change in the State and the basics had been addressed. He further said that the opposition parties were not able to attack the BRS politically as the basic issues of the people were well addressed. Earlier electricity, water supply, and irrigation were major problems and these problems don't exist anymore, KTR added.

KTR said the opposition had raised 99.99 percent of the issues that did not bother the common man. Instead, they raise issues that bother a few self-styled intellectuals, politicians, and lobbyists. “We have a love for Telangana and we don’t have arrogance,” he added, countering the opposition leader's accusation of calling BRS leaders arrogant.

KTR said that despite losing two years and bearing one lakh crore losses due to COVID-19, the development in the state continued under the leadership of Chief Minister KCR. He said that two more years went into elections and the BRS Government properly had six and a half years to govern. He added that the BRS could bring major development in the state which the opposition couldn’t do in six decades.

KTR said that in 2014 the IT exports were Rs. 57,000 crores and by 2023 the numbers rose to Rs. 2,41,000 crores. “Without COVID, we could have crossed Rs 3 lakh crores,” he said.

KTR also highlighted that in paddy production Telangana’s rank was 14th and in 2022 Telangana crossed Haryana and Punjab and stood at the number one position. Through TS-iPASS 24,000 approvals were given, Rs. 4 lakh investment potential was created and 24 lakh job potential have been achieved, he said.

In 2014, Telangana’s per capita income was Rs. 1,14,000 and today it is Rs. 3,17,000 which was the highest for any state in the country, he said. “We are less than two and a half percent of India in terms of population but we won 30 percent of National Panchayat awards. With Palle Pragathi and Pattana Programs we won the second largest number of Swachh Sarvekshan Awards in the country,” KTR said.

Talking about the BRS government’s focus in the coming days, KTR said that a new housing scheme would be brought in apart from the existing 2 BHK program with an international to provide a house for every family in the state. He also said that the Government would work to achieve 100 percent literacy.

“By 2047 India will celebrate 100 years of independence. By then Hyderabad should become a beacon of progress and innovation, inclusive growth, and embrace sustainability, while also preserving its rich cultural heritage,” KTR said.

Talking about sustainability, KTR said that the use of renewable energy and sustainable energy would be encouraged in the transportation and construction industry. “I want to see Hyderabad having proper earmarked by-cycle lanes,” KTR said.

He also talked about the use of electric vehicles as shuttles which would increase metro ridership as a free service increasing the adoption rate. He also said that the focus would also be on creating more green spaces and reforestation in Hyderabad.

KTR also said that there were 977 urban parks in and around HMDA limits. He stressed the need to maintain and preserve them and at the same time, encourage community engagement. KTR also said that the Government would work for electrification of vehicles to reduce emissions which would also reduce the operating cost.

“Hyderabad should become a poster city for the rest of the world in safety,” KTR added. He said that the city had many CCTV cameras and wings like SHE teams for the safety of women. He further said that a stringent cyber security measure would be taken and special legislation would be brought in for the same. AI and IoT would also be leveraged to protect people in online spaces, he said.

During the session, KTR also shared his dream to achieve a 24/7 water supply in Hyderabad. He further said that the Hyderabad metro would be increased to 415 km in the next ten years. “For a city to emerge as a global city, a robust public transport system should come into place,” he said. He also assured the completion of a 250 km metro line in the next five years.

He said that Rapid Rail transit would be developed to reach any nook and corner of the state. This way employees can work in any town or Hyderabad and commute easily. “RRT will be a game changer for Telangana,” he said. This would help in decentralization and reduce the load on Hyderabad, he said.

Highlighting that Hyderabad has the scope for hosting a line of international events, KTR said that the city would be transformed into a MICE (Meetings, Incentives, Conventions, Exhibitions) capital of the World.

KTR also talked about developing satellite townships, an Urban Flood Management System, a World-class IMAGE city, boosting tourism, strengthening sporting infrastructure, and developing Hyderabad to host the Olympics