GHMC polls: TD-BJP promise Wi-fi, Central funds for city

Hyderabad: Holding aloft the slogan of ushering in a “Happy Hyderabad”, the Telugu Desam-BJP combine released its civic polls manifesto on Sunday, and said it will ensure more flow of Central funds to speed up the city’s development.

Party leaders released a Vision Document that promises more citizen-friendly measures if the combine is voted to power in the February GHMC polls.

Releasing the document, party leaders said Hyderabad’s development took place when the NDA was at the Centre and TD government ruled the state.

“That was the time when Hyderabad developed its Hitech City and   won for it international recognition,” they said.

TD-BJP leaders said Hyderabad cannot be developed without liberal funds flow from the Centre, and “owe alone can help pump more funds from the Centre this time again.”

On the other hand, the 19-month-old TRS government was yet to have a proper perspective, vision and commitment to develop Hyderabad. It was responsible for the delay in many projects including Metro Rail and the Godavari Water Project.

“If Hyde-rabad is to be developed on par with world class cities, it is only possible with the TD-BJP combine being in power,” they asserted.

Highlights of the manifesto are: Drinking water to each household, free water connection to poor, wi-fi to the entire city, waiving permission to build houses in less than 200 yards among others.

The manifesto also promises free medical aid and supply of medicines  
to hospitals in all divisions. Steps will be taken to prevent  
incidents of chain snatching and eve teasing.

Flyovers at 50 junctions to ease traffic, and cement or tar roads in all Bastis and colonies are also promised.

The manifesto said property tax will be reduced and there will be  
rationalization of the tax structure. Musi riverfront will be developed on the lines of Sabarmati in Gujarat.

Lokesh: Why is CM not campaigning?
Hitting the city roads for the first time on the campaign trail, newly appointed Telugu Desam national general secretary Nara Lokesh Sunday called upon the people to elect the TD-BJP combine in the GHMC polls to ensure “faster development as was the case during the previous Chandrababu Naidu
terms in office between 1995 and 2004.”

Lokesh conducted road shows in AS Rao Nagar, Uppal, Habsiguda and Nagole Crossroads, seeking votes for TD and BJP, and saying the people going to polling booths are well advised to first make a comparison of the development plan envisaged by Chandrababu Naidu and that of the present “non-performing” government headed by K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

Wondering why Mr Chandrasekhar Rao stopped campaigning in the city and instead deputed his minister son K.T. Rama Rao, Lokesh said people were no more in a mood to listen to what the Telangana Chief Minister spoke by way of promises, as the CM was “not delivering even on a single promise,” he held out in the last 19 months of his rule.

"People are not ready to listen to KCR anymore. Thatâ?Ts why KTR is  
deputed. He too started giving tall promises but fails to explain what  
the TRS government has done all these days. Both are deceiving the  
people. Now it is time for the people to elect the TD-BJP in GHMC so  
that more development could take place here," Lokesh said.

Hitting hard at KTR, the TD general secretary said. "The IT minister  
has also started twisting his statements. One day he says he will  
resign if TRS won't get 100 seats. The next day he changes tune and  
says his challenge was limited only to the Mayor post.â?Â

Reminding the people of how, within 11 months, the gigantic hi-tech  
building construction was completed during the Chandrababu period  
here, and how Cyberabad city was developed within nine years, Lokesh  
held out the promise of faster development if TD-BJP combine is voted  
to power.

Though Lokesh sought votes for the TD-BJP combine in wayside meetings,  
he specifically asked Habsiguda voters to vote for the Telugu Desam  
party, keeping in view the fact that BJP is also having a candidate  
there in a friendly contest with TD.