Telangana seeks funds for T-Fiber network

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Friday requested the Centre to provide a Rs 1,779-crore interest-free long-term loan to the state government from the Universal Service Obligation Fund (USOF), where Rs 78,000 crore is available, for providing affordable fibre optic-based internet service to 93 lakh households in the state.

During his meeting with Union communications minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, Revanth Reddy said the Telangana government is planning to provide fibre connections under the T-Fiber project to 63 lakh households in the rural areas and 30 lakh households in urban areas at Rs 300 per month for accessing television channels, and e-education services.

The government will also use this service to provide internet to 65,500 government institutions and has mobilised Rs 530 crore.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and tourism minister Jupally Krishna Rao.

During his meeting with Union sports and youth affairs minister Mansukh L. Mandaviya, Revanth Reddy urged him to allow Telangana to host national and international sports events, including the Olympics. He highlighted the sport infrastructure, accommodation facilities and connectivity in Telangana.

The Chief Minister discussed the state government's plan to establish a sports university and sought financial assistance from the Centre. He sought the inclusion of Hyderabad as a venue for the Khelo India Youth Games scheduled for January 2025 and an increase in the allocation of funds under the Khelo India scheme for the development of sports infrastructure in Telangana..

He requested the approval of detailed project reports submitted by the state government for the upgradation of facilities at the GMC Balayogi Stadium in Gachibowli, the shooting range at the University of Hyderabad, LB Stadium, the sports school in Hakimpet, and the Saroornagar Indoor Stadium.