Revanth: Congress govt will transform Hyd into a global city with Rs 1.50 lakh crore projects

Hyderabad:Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has unveiled an ambitious vision to transform Hyderabad into a global city, announcing a development outlay of `1.50 lakh crore over the next four years. He called on the BJP-led central government to allocate funds for these vital projects.

Addressing a public meeting on Tuesday after inaugurating development projects worth `7,000 crore, the Chief Minister stressed Hyderabad’s role as the pride and self-respect of Telangana, which the Congress government will enhance further. He expressed confidence in making Hyderabad a city that avoids the pitfalls of other Metro cities, such as Delhi’s pollution, Mumbai’s flooding, and Bengaluru’s traffic woes.

Revanth Reddy said that the state government has plans to establish a "Fourth City" on the outskirts of Hyderabad, spanning 50,000 acres. He said the Future City will compete with the world’s top cities in infrastructure and investment potential. He also disclosed plans to construct the 360-km Hyderabad Regional Ring Road and develop radial roads to enhance connectivity.

The state government is exploring partnerships with international funding agencies to finance these ambitious projects. Additionally, cold storage facilities will be established at Ibrahimpatnam’s international fruit market, ensuring robust supply chain infrastructure.

The Chief Minister criticised opposition parties for trying to hinder the Musi development project, asserting its importance for flood management and sustainable urban development. He revealed plans for constructing water harvesting pits across 141 locations to curb urban flooding.

The Congress government also aims to continue its legacy of addressing Hyderabad’s water needs, with initiatives to lift Godavari water requiring `7,000 crore.

The Chief Minister lambasted the BJP and BRS for obstructing Hyderabad’s progress. He accused Union minister and BJP state president G. Kishan Reddy of failing to secure central funds for Hyderabad despite being a Union minister for over a decade.

“Kishan Reddy must bring `25,000 crore for the Musi Rejuvenation Project and `35,000 crore for Metro expansion. If not, his opposition amounts to mere crocodile tears,” Revanth Reddy stated.

He also criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s perceived favouritism towards Gujarat, questioning why Hyderabad’s development projects were not receiving equivalent support.

The Chief Minister alleged that Kishan Reddy's opposition stemmed from fears that the Musi project’s success would enhance the Telangana government’s reputation, overshadowing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Sabarmati project.

Revanth Reddy challenged Kishan Reddy to demonstrate his commitment by securing `25,000 crore in central funding for the Musi project. He also invited the Union minister to bring `10,000 crore to build quality housing for the poor, promising to allocate land for the construction.

“Sleeping at the Musi River or making dramatic gestures won’t help,” said Revanth Reddy. “If Kishan Reddy is serious about Telangana’s development, he must bring real funds from the Centre instead of obstructing our initiatives.”

The Chief Minister criticised the Centre for neglecting Telangana in favour of other states. He pointed out the disparity in metro rail funding, stating, “The Centre provided financial assistance to Gujarat and Chennai Metros. Why not Hyderabad? `35,000 crore is needed for the metro’s expansion, and `7,000 crore is required for Godavari drinking water projects. What has Kishan Reddy done to bring these funds?”

Revanth Reddy further accused the Modi government of diverting resources to Gujarat, citing the development of the Gift City project, and demanded accountability from Kishan Reddy on what he had delivered for Telangana during his tenure as a Union minister.

The Chief Minister outlined several pending proposals, including `50,000 crore for regional and radial road development, and questioned why funds had not been allocated by the Centre. “Our proposals are gathering dust in the office of Union minister Nitin Gadkari. Kishan Reddy must explain why,” he said.

“Why is Kishan Reddy obstructing the development of the Musi river? Should Hyderabad suffer like Delhi due to negligence? Let him bring Modi to Musi and witness its deplorable state,” Revanth Reddy said.

He dared the BRS and the BJP to present clear policy documents for Hyderabad's development. “If Kishan Reddy brings funds from the Centre for development of Hyderabad, I will felicitate him in the presence of 10 lakh people in Parade Grounds. Even if he fails to do so, we are ready to move forward. Let the people of Telangana decide who is truly working for the development of the city.”

Revanth Reddy announced the setting up of a cabinet sub-committee led by deputy chief minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and ministers D Sridhar Babu and Ponnam Prabhakar to seek proposals from all political parties on development of Hyderabad.

He dared the leaders of the BRS and the BJP to present concrete proposals for the city’s development at an all-party meeting, which will be convened by the cabinet sub-committee soon. He assured the public that the Congress government is open to adopting ideas from other parties if they prove beneficial for Hyderabad.

The Chief Minister credited past Congress governments for key infrastructure like the Hyderabad Metro Rail and Rajiv Gandhi International Airport. He promised to uphold this legacy with bold new projects and a focus on making Hyderabad a cosmopolitan hub for global investments.

The government’s one-year performance has already yielded a 29 per cent growth in revenue from real estate and property registrations, he stated, citing this as evidence of the state’s commitment to development.

He also appealed to intellectuals and citizens to contribute ideas for Hyderabad’s growth.