Journalists on a trip to Seoul revealed that the Han River project cost just Rs. 6,000 crore compared to Musi’s Rs. 1.5 lakh crore. Now, the Revanth Reddy-led Congress government is under fire for its ambitious Musi River beautification project, which is slated to cost a staggering Rs. 1,50,000 crore. A group of journalists who recently visited South Korea, along with ministers and public representatives on a government-sponsored trip, uncovered startling comparisons that cast serious doubts over the project’s budget and transparency.
During their visit, journalists from two reputed English dailies uncovered key details about South Korea’s Han River beautification project. According to reports, the first phase of the Han River beautification cost around Rs. 315 crore, with the total projected expenditure for the second phase reaching Rs. 6,090 crore. In contrast, Telangana’s Musi River project, projected to cost Rs. 1.5 lakh crore, has drawn sharp criticism.
The Han River project, initiated in 2023, was designed to enhance the scenic value of the river and improve urban infrastructure around Seoul. Despite South Korea’s reputation for efficiency in public works, their project costs remain well below the whopping budget set for Musi’s beautification.
The controversy started when 16 journalists were taken on a trip to South Korea, presumably to write favorable stories comparing the Musi project with the Han River’s transformation. However, the trip backfired. Articles from two journalists did more than just praise South Korea’s beautification efforts; they exposed glaring disparities between the two projects.
An English newspaper correspondent reported that the Han River project was initially budgeted at Rs. 1,600 crore. Meanwhile, another English newspaper journalist highlighted the completion of the first phase at Rs. 315 crore, while also stating that future phases are estimated to cost around Rs. 6,090 crore. These figures immediately raised questions among the people of Telangana.
With the release of these articles, people are now asking why the Musi River project demands an outlay nearly 25 times that of South Korea’s Han River project, which achieved similar goals at a much lower cost. Many are pointing to the project as potentially the biggest scam in India’s history.
The Congress government is scrambling to contain the fallout, and what was meant to be a positive publicity move by taking journalists to South Korea is now being called a disaster. The timing of the demolition drive in Hyderabad, allegedly for the beautification project, is also being criticized. Demolitions began hastily, leading to accusations that the government is prioritizing large-scale construction over addressing local concerns.
Critics argue that the Rs. 1,50,000 crore estimate for the Musi project is wildly inflated, pointing out that South Korea accomplished similar results for a fraction of the cost.