HYDERABAD: Restaurants and other commercial establishments in the city, except those selling or serving liquor, can remain open until 1 am, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced in the Legislative Assembly here on Friday.
The announcement came in the wake of AIMIM floor leader Akbaruddin Owaisi’s allegations that the police were enforcing early closure of businesses in the Old City. Reddy said that he had issued strict instructions to police commissioners of Hyderabad, Cyberabad and Rachakonda to allow commercial establishments to remain open until 1 am.
Owaisi cited instances of police highhandedness, particularly in the Old City, where residents were allegedly chased and assaulted with lathis by police officers for being outside their homes after 11 pm.
Revanth Reddy assured the Assembly that the government would not rely on superficial methods of policing. "We will stick to concrete policing," he emphasised.
Replying to the debate on ‘Activities for sustainable urban development in Hyderabad metro city’, he outlined a vision for the city’s development, emphasising its historical significance and the need for sustainable growth. He announced the launch of a new initiative, HYDRAA (Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring and Protection) which is aimed at addressing long-standing issues and preparing the city for the next century.
He expressed concern over encroachments of waterbodies and stressed that HYDRAA would focus on controlling such encroachments.
To tackle the inadequacies of the rainage infrastructure, Revanth Reddy said the government planned to implement a new system, including harvesting wells, to manage water accumulation during heavy rain. He recounted the contribution of the previous Congress governments to Hyderabad's water supply, from the Manjira water project in 1965 to the nearly completed Krishna Phase-3 in 2014. He slammed the BRS government for claiming credit for these projects. He specifically pointed to instances of crime and mismanagement by the BRS leadership.
Reddy that global tenders would be announced for the 55-km Musi riverfront development initiative. The project aimed to address encroachments along the river, with alternative arrangements planned for the oustees. He also revealed plans for a 2.6-km suspension bridge and a landmark tower, similar to the London Eye, at Mir Alam Tank.
Reddy sought the cooperation of Opposition parties, particularly the BJP, to secure permissions and funds from the Centre for these projects. He criticised the BRS administration for prioritising luxury projects like Pragati Bhavan and the Secretariat over public welfare and reiterated his commitment for inclusive development. "Our idea is to take everyone's advice for the development of Hyderabad city," Reddy said.
He also challenged claims by K.T. Rama Rao (BRS) regarding the provision of water to Gajwel, asserting that the Congress had laid the groundwork for these projects.
