Urban bodies to get big fillip: KTR

​Hyderabad: As the urban population in Telangana is all set to go up to 44 per cent by 2024, Municipal Administration Minister K T Rama Rao on Tuesday said that the government would spend Rs 55,000 crore in a span of three years on the development of civic bodies.

Rama Rao, releasing the annual report of the Municipal Administration and Urban Development department, said that the urban population of Telangana was at present 40 per cent of 3.5 crore of total population (2011 census).     

The state government is going to add a few more municipalities, corporations and other civic bodies taking the number to 146 from present 74 in the state. He said: “The Chief Minister has promised to provide Rs 55,000 crore budget to Municipal Administration during the next three years and the planning is going on as per this allocation.” He further said that people migrate to urban areas in search of quality livelihood and the government cannot stop the migration but can control it.

The Minister listed out the works done by various wings of the municipal department. He said that municipal administration and urban development department had brought 171 reforms in the state and this had helped in 100 per cent business liberalisation. 

Regarding the Hyderabad Metro Rail, the minister said that already 30-km stretch was inaugurated, and the LB Nagar stretch would be started in August. By November, the Hitec City segment would be inaugurated. The DPR was being finalised for the second phase of Metro towards the Hyderabad Airport.

The minister said that the government was planning to expand the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation from the existing 30 circles and six zones. He said that the issue would be discussed in the cabinet meeting and a decision would be taken. He said that the municipal bonds were oversubscribed, and corporation could use Rs 200 crore for several development works. 

The over subscription shows the GHMC was performing better. He said that the government would construct 1 lakh double bedroom in GHMC. He also said that the government was taking up a township at Sangareddy with over 15,000 units. This will be the biggest township ever to be constructed by a government, he added.

He said that for road development, the government had formed the Hyderabad Road Development Corporation Limited (HRDCL). He said that never in the history of the state, road works were being taken up in Hyderabad. For the beautification of River Musi, the minister said that Musi River Development Corporation was formed for beautification of the river up to 57 km. Presently, drone survey was being taken up by the department. He said that the GHMC and HMDA had taken up restoration of 20 lakes each in the city.

The minister also said that two reservoirs with a capacity of 10 tmc ft would come up at two places in the city. Administration sanctions were given to Keshavapuram reservoir with 10 tmc ft with Rs 4,775 crore and another reservoir of 10 tmc ft would come up at Devaranagaram in Chautuppal.

The minister recalled that three municipalities Siddipet, Boduppal and Peerzadiguda had got South Zone Swachh Sarvekshan award-2018 and Hyderabad was selected as best capital city under Swachh Sarvekshan.

Rao said that city cannot be made into world class city overnight and it would take some time. He said that a new era being started by the government to develop cities, towns of the state and the State is going to be a role model for the country.