By: Vanam Jwala Narasimha Rao
[The writer is CPRO to Telangana CM]
Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao unveiled the Infrastructure Development Model for Telangana as a whole and for Hyderabad in particular. The CM disclosed details of this in a meeting with representatives of a China based leading infrastructure company namely Anju Infrastructure. It’s Director Yogesh Wagh along with his colleague Director Manoj Gandhi and Chairman of Radick Consultants Raj Kumar its sister concern called on Chief Minister on 23rd and 24th September 2015. Earlier when CM visited China during 2nd and 3rd week of September to attend the World Economic Forum meeting, Yogesh Waugh along with his team had an interaction meeting with him. At that time his team evinced keen interest in Telangana Industrial Policy and expressed his preparedness to invest in the state. CM invited him to visit the state.
Details of CM’s Development Model: Hyderabad, one of the largest cities in India, is also the largest city in Telangana. It is administered through two bodies known as Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metro Development Authority (HMDA). GHMC has 640 Square Kilometers area and forms part of HMDA which is covered by an area of 7200 Square Kilometers. Hyderabad has an outer ring road and within 50 Kilometers radius from the city on all sides there are 9 towns and it requires infrastructure development altogether. The towns within 50 KM radius are: Shadnagar on the Hyderabad-Bangalore Highway, Choutappal on the Hyderabad-Vijayawada Highway, Bhongir on the Hyderabad-Warangal Highway, Gajwel on the Hyderabad-Karimnagar Highway, Sangareddy on the Hyderabad-Bombay Highway, Vikarabad on the Hyderabad-Gulbarga Highway, Medchal up to Toopran on the Hyderabad-Nagpur Highway and Narsapur on the Hyderabad-Bodhan Highway. CM said that as Hyderabad city is expanding towards these towns, the master plans should be prepared in that direction. Telangana government had decided to construct express elevated highways along the highways leading to Warangal, Karimnagar and Nalgonda.
Chief Minister said that Hyderabad and its surrounding cities need to be developed in a decent and scientific manner. The master plan should include construction of flyovers, expressways, skyways, roads, provision of sewerage, drinking water and housing in all these towns. Besides Hyderabad, cities like Khammam, Warangal, Karimnagar, Nizamabad and Ramagundam which are corporations with nearly a million populations and are second layer towns too would be developed with international standards. Besides these the 67 municipalities would also be developed in a phased manner. CM recalled his request made to the New Development Bank (NDB) Chairman KV Kamath during his China Visit for financial assistance of Rs. 25, 000 Crores for projects relating to roads, sewerage, drinking water etc. The Chairman then clarified to CM that the focus of NDB is on Lending to developing countries and the focus will be on setting up infrastructure.
CM through a video presentation and with the help of Google Earth Map explained in detail about the Strategic Road Development Plan proposed in Hyderabad to the visiting delegation and how Government wants to develop Hyderabad into a global and Smart City. Hyderabad has a comfortable climate, cosmopolitan nature and uniqueness in many ways. CM briefed them his plans and expectations of a new way of urbanization and how Telangana State Government is providing right environment to entrepreneurs. CM’s comprehensive development plan of Hyderabad includes constructing 5 Skyways of 100 KM length, 11 major corridors of 184 KM length, 60 major roads of 360 KM length, other roads of 1400 KM length and 50 grid separators across Hyderabad as well as going for a special emphasis on Bus Bays. As the pressure is on the increase on the existing infrastructure in Hyderabad, it requires a world class infrastructure facility felt CM.
In addition to these CM also mentioned about the Government plans to construct 42-Kilometer long six-lane road from east to west on Musi and to construct a suspension bridge on Durgam Cheruvu in the city besides four major bridges across Godavari River. Chief Minister recalling his meeting with Indian Ambassador in China Ashok k Kantha during his visit said that, development plans for major cities in China like Dalian, Shanghai, Beijing, Shenzhen and Hong Kong were designed by Government Companies. In view of this a team of Officers will be visiting China to study the pattern and if necessary to draft the consultancy companies that prepared plans for these cities for preparing similar plans in Telangana.
Director Yogesh Waugh of Anju Infrastructure and representatives of the other construction companies who took part in the meeting with CM, expressed readiness to take part in the construction of roads, bridges, suspension bridges, urban planning and Bridge Designing. They told CM that they are willing to partner in the developmental plans and would once again meet the state government officials and decide on the works to be taken up. Yogesh who is also the Senior Investment Advisor to the Government of China said that his company is a world class one with Government support. According to him China Companies think that India is a big market and as a pool of several manufacturing companies would like to participate in India Infrastructure market more and more. A beginning with one or two projects in Telangana is their choice. Their participation in state infrastructure projects will also bring new technology and new innovations in to Telangana State.
The Chinese infrastructure group made an aerial survey on the following day along the course of Musi River in Hyderabad and also the proposed irrigation projects, roads and bridges in Karimnagar district including Dharmaram and Choppadandi to see the tunnel works there. Pipelines for diverting Godavari water to Mid-Manair will pass through these villages. The tunnel work includes constructing pump house and erecting pump also.
On their return the Chinese delegation discussed about the plans to construct the tunnels for diverting the Godavari waters, construction of four major bridges on Godavari River and road along Musi. The CM also discussed with them the proposed skyscrapers around Hussainsagar Lake. They explained to them the revolutionary changes in construction technology known as China’s New Normal Technology which had the capability to build three floors of a structure within a day by pre-casting method. The towers would be a typical mix of multipurpose floors that will have hotels, malls, residential accommodation and an observatory.
The China Team will give a detailed report in a month’s time on the proposed 42-km road along Musi, construction of tunnels to divert Godavari waters to Mid-Manair in Karimnagar and construction of four major bridges on Godavari. The Chinese construction companies evinced keen interest in taking part in the development activities of the State.
The other members of delegation who met CM include, Zhai Zhen, Wang Peidong, Cui Bohan, Li Li, Li Xiaohong, Shi Yungang, Wuhao, Anesuman krsushnu, Manoj Kumar, Amit Agerwal, BP Singh, Sabyasach Haldar and PV Sherma.