New Year 2017: Promises and hopes

A ‘message’ for parking space
Dr B. Janardhan Reddy, Commissioner, GHMC: Parking is a major concern in the twin cities. GHMC will soon start the Integrated Management System, an application which will inform users on space availability for parking in a given area.

Also, over 25,000 houses will be constructed under JNNURM and will be handed over to beneficiaries. Work on one lakh 2BHK houses is set to begin and there will be better solid waste management to make Hyderabad a cleaner city.

Better health and water
Sujatha Gupta, Chief Executive Officer - Secunderabad Cantonment Board: More water connections will be approved, along with improved water supply and motorable roads, The health of residents will be our prime focus and we will ensure all that eateries will operate as per SCB sanitation norms.

M. Dana Kishore, MD, Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board: The peripheral area of Hyderabad will no longer face water scarcity as the multi-crore project bring regular supply to these areas will be done by 2017. The World Bank-aided Malkajgiri water project and the Rs 1,900-crore, 2,500-km Hudco-funded project will be completed in 2017.

The T-Hub is set for expansion
Jayesh Ranjan, IT secretary: T-Hub second phase will be functioning in 2017 and we are going to expand T-Hub and TASK to all districts. We hope 2017 will bring electronic manufacturing units to Hyderabad.

Major works will be over
T. Harish Rao, Irrigation sector in TS: Work on all ongoing projects taken up during the AP regime will be completed in 2017. Bhakha Ramdas lift scheme, conceived, executed during TRS regime will finish in  January for 60,000 acres. The Yellampally-Mid Manair Dam link, a crucial link in Pranahita-Kaleswaram project, will be completed in 2017.

Expect cheaper drugs soon
S. Chandrasekhar, director, Indian Institute of Chemical Technology:  IICT has undertaken major research in generic drugs discipline to make new age, very expensive drugs affordable to all. Two new processes are expected to get completed in 2017: Bedaquiline, a drug used in treatment of drug resistant TB and Eribulin, used in treatment of breast cancer.

‘Realty sector expecting bank lending rates to drop’
Dasharath Reddy,  President, Telangana Real Estate Developers' Association (Treda): Construction was doing well in 2016. But the activity has come to a standstill after the note ban. As banks are now flooded with cash, we expect lending rates to drop. This will increase demand for housing and boost the real estate sector. While real estate industry is not impacted by the note ban, land purchase has been. We wish the government slashes stamp duty from six per cent to two per cent, while increasing the land rates. This will bring in transparency without any cut in government revenues.

‘An Integrated justice system’
Anurag Sharma, Telangana state DGP: The single major project that would start running is the Integrated Criminal Justice System. It will integrate the courts, police stations, prosecution, forensic science labs and jails. Telangana state will be the first to have such a system.

Focus on fresh police technology
M. Mahender Reddy, Hyderabad police commissioner: We will concentrate on technological advancement. Last year proved that technology as a force multiplier is highly effective. Community CCTV projects, smartphone apps have proven successful.

Deep dive into genomics, health
Dr Rakesh K Mishra, Director, Center for Cellular and Molecular Biology:  CCMB will give more attention in 2017 to stem cell research with an eye on stem cell therapy. Another area of focus will be the genomics of the India population and its implications in future healthcare and will take steps towards the domain of personalised and precision medicine through close collaborations with hospitals in Hyderabad like NIMS. Major initiative will be taken to produce ‘industry ready’ human resource for the biotech industry by conducting training programmes.

State all set to usher in year of more power
Devulapally Prabhakara: Transco and Genco Chairman cum Managing Director
Kottagudem 800 MW and Bhadradri 1,080 MW new thermal stations will start operations. The 90 MW Pulichintala hydel power station will be commissioned. Twenty 132 KVA and above capacity sub-stations will be commissioned. The Wardha-Dichpally major power grid line will be operationalised in 2017 that will provide double circuit power transmission to help Telangana State to draw more power from outside.

The hunt for resources
Dr Virendra M.Tiwari, Director, National Geophysical Research Institute: Providing solutions for water problems in the country through geophysical mapping and modelling will have prime focus. NGRI will further the near surface exploration project to find resources like hydrocarbons and minerals.

Yadadri temple to be finished
A. Indrakaran Reddy, Endowments minister: The remodelled Yadadri temple will ready by Dasara in 2017. The new temple complex is coming up on 3.9 acres with all pilgrim amenities. About 500 sculptors are engaged in sculpturing the temple pillars, sculptures and other structures. Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is expected to visit Basar temple and launch the master plan for development.