Hyderabad: In its first year, the TRS government had a few hits as well as misses. The government targeted illegal structures at Ayyappa Society, Madhapur. It also took on the celebrity owner of N-Convention for lake encroachment. Close to 58,000 unauthorised structures were identified for demolition and over 300 structures were knocked down. However, the drive was put off as the government feared losing votes in the upcoming GHMC polls.
Another issue that invited criticism was the Intensive Housing survey and the government had to do some damage control to keep migrants in good humour.
Also, for first time, three TRS MLAs from the city were made ministers with important portfolios.
Among the projects gathering steam is the cleaning up of the Hussainsagar. It is making headway with the diversion of the polluted Kukatpally nala. Also to be applauded is the designated Bathukamma Ghat on Tank Bund with Wi-Fi. The Safe-Secure-Smart colony project has covered over 100 localities in Hyderabad and Secunderabad with people-friendly policing being introduced.
The Hyderabad police got a Rs 350-crore makeover with purchase of Internet-enabled, GPS Innova cars and 300 motorbikes. A special task force for women’s protection was also constituted. The TSRTC, meanwhile, got 80 metro luxury buses. With to the Swachh Hyderabad campaign, the city got rid of waste and debris.
In a boost to the real estate sector, the government introduced a single-window system for project clearances. The IDH Colony has been revamped with the promised two-bedroom housing scheme. Approval for multi grade flyovers at 20 junctions and lake protection were other recent moves.
Toddy shops that had been shut down owing to pressure from the liquor lobby were reopened last Dasara. Concerned about heritage structures being affected, the Telangana government altered the Metro Rail alignment. Among the decisions of the government that sparked protests was shifting of the Chest Hospital to accommodate the new Secretariat. The government then eyed Parade Grounds before settling for Bison grounds.
Shifting the Chanchalguda Jail to house educational institutions and acquiring Osmania University land for the housing for poor project also sparked trouble.
Meanwhile, the CM has promised to model the old city of Hyderabad after Istanbul, in Turkey. However, the plan is yet to take off. The government also announced that the Race Course in Malakpet will be shifted to accommodate schools for poor children.
One declaration that didn’t go down too was the shifting of Ganesh idol immersion to Indira Park by creating a new water body there. The iconic Ravindra Bharathi auditorium will be replaced with an ultra-modern structure of a large, shiny pearl nestling in its shell.
