The Panchayat Raj and IT minister, Mr KTR had an eventful day in Delhi on Thursday. He met several central ministers with regard to various developmental activities in the state. Speaking to the media after meeting the ministers Mr Venkaiah Naidu, Minister of Urban Development, Mr Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways and Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister of communication and IT, Mr KTR informed the media that his meetings had been successful and quite encouraging.
Mr KTR called on Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad, Minister for Communication and Information Technology and discussed various issues related Digital India and laying of fiber optical network cables. Mr Rao suggested collaboration between fiber optical network laying project and Water Grid project which be both time saving and cost effective. Mr KTR also requested Mr Ravi Shankar Prasad to grant necessary permissions for the proposed T- Hub project and to attend its inaugural function.
Mr Rama Rao conveyed thanks to Mr Venkaiah Naidu, the minister for urban development for including five cities in the state in the list of smart cities and requested to include Siddipet in the list of Class -1 cities to which the central minister responded positively and issued directions to the officials concerned to look into the matter and do the needful. Mr KTR extended invitation to Mr Venkaiah Naidu to be the chief guest for the international conference on Smart Cities and Smart Technologies to be held on 22, 23 August 2015 in Hyderabad. Mr Venkaiah Naidu accepted the invitation and assured his presence.
Mr KTR requested the central government to release more funds through HUDCO (Housing And Urban Development Corporation Limited) for the implementation of the Water Grid Project which aims at providing water tap facility in every house in Telangana state. Mr KTR had discussions with the HUDCO chairperson Mr Ravikanth in this regard. Mr Ravikant remarked that the Water Grid Project is an excellent project and informed that the HUDCO regional office in Hyderabad would take the initiative regarding releasing more funds.
Mr Rama Rao in his meeting with Mr Nitin Gadkari, put forth a request to facilitate procurement of cement required for building the promised double bedroom houses and highways, at subsidized rates. Mr KTR said that Mr Gadkari had acceded to the request. Mr Rao requested for conversion of state highways exceeding 1000 KMs to national highways. Mr Rao also stated that Mr Gadkari has assured the construction of the proposed Dry Port as soon as a suitable piece of land is identified. Mr Gadkari also assured Mr KTR that very soon a final decision on the division of RTC would be taken.