Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K.T. Rama Rao called on Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs Hardeep Singh Puri in New Delhi on Saturday. During the meeting, KTR presented various requests to the Union Minister, seeking the Central Government’s assistance in several areas: to further improve public transportation and the road network in Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration; to implement measures to make Hyderabad a cleaner city; and to enhance the metrics and performance in solid and liquid waste management in the state
Additionally, the Minister appealed to the Center to introduce National Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme (NUEGS) on the lines of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS) to help urban poor in the country.
On improving public transportation and the road network, the MA&UD Minister reiterated the appeal to expedite the approval for the 26 kilometers long Hyderabad Metro Rail line from BHEL to Lakdikapul and five kilometers Metro line from Nagole to LB Nagar. He said that a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project was submitted by the State government.
The Minister also sought financial assistance to provide Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in the Kokapet area, on the west side of Hyderabad which is fast developing as the new Central Business District (CBD). The preliminary estimate of the MRTS is Rs 3050 Cr. The Minister appealed for a financial contribution of Rs 450 Crore from the central government.
About extending missing link roads connectivity up to Outer Ring Road, KTR also said that a total of 104 additional corridors are identified to be taken up with an estimated amount of Rs. 2400 Cr. He urged the central government to extend support through a contribution of Rs.800 Cr.
In regard to further improving cleanliness and waste management in the State, the MA&UD Minister appealed to the Union Minister for the central government’s financial support for scientific treatment and disposal of legacy leachate and other resources for waste management including procurement of tertiary vehicles with closed containers and development of modern transfer stations.
The Minister said that it would take Rs 3722.82 Crs for three Sewerage Treatment Plants (STPs) clusters under the proposed Sanitation Project – Development of Sewer Network Infrastructure for Liquid Waste Collection at Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration (HUA). He appealed to the central government to sanction 20% of the project cost i.e Rs 744.56 Crs.
KTR said that the State government with the support of the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI) developed a blueprint of Sanitation Innovation Hub in Telangana, and seed commitment was made by the State.
Hardeep Singh Puri expressed admiration for the Sanitation Hub initiative of the Telangana government. He acknowledged that the Sanitation Hub, with its creative concepts, will address numerous challenges in the development of municipalities. The Union Minister asked the State to share its innovative ideas and provide details at an upcoming meeting organized by his Ministry.
Minister KTR mentioned that the State government undertook various developmental projects through the Municipal Administration Department. KTR extended an invitation to the Union Minister to visit Hyderabad and personally assess the double bedroom houses, SRDP link roads, sanitation, solid waste management, liquid waste management programs, and other urban development initiatives being implemented by the State government.