Hyderabad 'to become biggest city in India'

Source: Gulf News  July 8, 2014

Hyderabad: The ambitious and grand vision of Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao for Telangana state includes, apart from many other things, two more airports for Hyderabad.

He presented his vision at “Re-inventing Telangana”, a brain storming session with the ministers, advisors to the government and the government officials from across the state.

KCR told the meeting that with IT Investment Region (ITIR) coming up in the city, the population of Hyderabad will increase rapidly reaching 35 million in three to five years from present 9.4 million and one airport will not be sufficient. He suggested building two more airports one at Shamirpet in the northern part and at Ghaktesar in the east of Hyderabad.

Hyderabad at present has a world class private sector international airport planned in a way to meet the requirements of next three decades. Apart from that the old Begumpet airport was also lying unused.

KCR’s vision also envisages a rapid transport system, which will enable the people from any part of the state to reach Hyderabad in 21 minutes. “This will discourage migration of people in surrounding areas”, he said. Hyderabad, he said will be a growth engine and become the biggest city in the country in sixe and population and the government will have to take measures to meet the needs of the people.

His two and a half hour long address at the meeting covered all the aspects of the administration ranging from irrigation and agriculture to rural and urban development, power and housing.

He said that the illegal constructions had become a curse for Hyderabad as it had destroyed many lakes. He asked the officials to initiate measures to regularize the 58000 illegal constructions in Hyderabad and also address the same problem in other districts of the state.

He smelled a rat in the housing schemes and pointed out that in many cases records show that houses were built and funds were released but they did not reach the beneficiaries. He said that 5.5 million houses were sanctioned and 4 million were built. He asked the officials to unearth the scam and take action against the culprits.

In the public distribution system he said the biggest anomaly was the number of ration cards. “The state has only 8.4 million households but here are 10.07 million ration cards”, he said asking the officials to take action to weed out the bogus cards. He said these excess cards were being used to siphon out the rice and other essential commodities.

To make agriculture beneficial for the farmers, he announced that a program wll be launched for the soil testing in the stat and crop colonies will be developed. On the power front he said that state needs more 6000 MW power generation capacity to tide over the crisis.

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90 Metro Rail Piers Get Police Clearance

Source: The New Indian Express  July 11, 2014

HYDERABAD: With regard to traffic police permissions to speed up the Hyderabad metro rail works in different parts of the city with proper traffic management plans, a joint coordination meeting was held between commissioner of police M.Mahendar Reddy and HMR managing director NVS Reddy at the Hyderabad police commissionerate here on Thursday.

NVS Reddy informed the police commissioner on the uniqueness of Hyderabad Metro's financial model, challenges faced in its execution and the innovative technical solutions being adopted to minimise inconvenience to road users during construction.

He explained that once completed, the metro rail would not only ease the traffic congestion in the city but would also catapult Hyderabad into the league of global cities with its features like integration among different modes of transport, dedicated feeder buses, pedestrian facilities, bicycle stations and quality public space at stations.

Highlighting the need for police clearance for more work fronts to speed up the project, he discussed with senior police officers the details of different metro work areas. 

While appreciating the issues raised by the metro rail chief, the police commissioner  advised senior traffic police officers to give work permissions at as many places as possible for optimal utilisation of machinery and manpower mobilised by the concessionaire, L&T Metro Rail (Hyderabad) Ltd.

At the same time, he requested NVS Reddy to ensure that metro works were taken up in a phased manner and move forward stretch by stretch so as not to hamper traffic movement. He also sought immediate road restoration and repairs where metro works have been completed. 

After identifying various stretches where metro works can be permitted, it was agreed that traffic police permissions would be granted for about 90 pier (pillar) foundations at various places immediately and for another 160 piers thereafter. 

Mahendar Reddy also requested HMR to improve junctions, provide well designed signages,signals and create U-turns and pedestrian crossings in the stretches where metro viaduct construction was completed, duly taking inputs from the traffic police.  HMR agreed to the request.

Metro Woes

■  Metro works should be taken up in a phased manner so as not to hamper traffic movement

■  Police also requested HMR to improve junctions, provide signages, signals and create U-turns and pedestrian crossings

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Centre approves setting up of Electronic Manufacturing Clusters (EMC) in Hyderabad

Source: ET  July 15, 2014

        The Department of Electronics and Information Technology at the Centre has approved setting up of two Greenfield Electronic Manufacturing Clusters (EMCs) in Hyderabad with an outlay of Rs 940 crore.

The first cluster will come up at eCity (formerly called the Fab City) on the outskirts of Hyderabad in an area of 602.37 acres.

     The Electronics Industries Association of Andhra Pradesh has "committed" to invest major part of the estimated Rs 1,800 crore investment in eCity, according to State Information and Communications Technology Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah.

The eCity EMC, which would have an SEZ area of 263 acres and non-SEZ area of 339 acre, is expected to create 35,000 jobs directly besides providing indirect employment of 2.1 lakh people, the Minister told reporters here.

The second EMC that would come up at Maheshwaram in Ranga Reddy district would be spread over 310 acre and would be developed at a cost of Rs 360 crore.

"We are trying to attract investments from industry associations in tune with the state electronic hardware policy announced last year. Those setting up units in the EMCs will be eligible for various incentives provided by the state and the central governments," Lakshmaiah said.

The Maheshwaram EMC is expected to attract an investment of Rs 800 crore and create direct employment for 14,000 people, besides indirect employment for 84,000.

The IT minister said proposal for setting up a third EMC at Paravada in Visakhapatnam in an area of 100 acres was under the consideration of the centre.

"We are now witnessing an information technology revolution in the country and hardware is critical to it," the minister said.

There are already 300 electronic hardware manufacturing units in the state doing a business of Rs 6,500 crore. There are already six brown-field electronic clusters in existence in Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Medak, Chittoor, Krishna and Visakhapatnam districts. These units too can now avail of the incentives under the Hardware Policy, the Minister added.

Information Technology secretary Sanjay Jaju was also present on the occasion.

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'Within a year, Hyderabad will rock' - KTR

"We need not sell Hyderabad to anyone. It sells itself. Our responsibility is to retain its image and enhance it if we can, but not mess with it," said IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao. Photo: Nagara Gopal

The relentless agitation over Telangana took the sheen off what was once considered a Shangri-La for investors. Now the new State looks set to restore its glory

Around six months ago, visitors to Hyderabad used to be puzzled when they saw buildings covered with colourful plastic nets. These nets, slung from top of the building and fixed to the compound walls, were meant to offer protection from stones that could be hurled by those agitating for formation of a separate Telangana State.

The other sight that a visitor would not miss was rolls of concertina wire kept ready to seal off areas, with hundreds of policemen in riot gear stationed at all vantage points.

The image of the historic city as the destination for Information Technology, hospitality, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical tourism, lay in splinters as it became the centre of the prolonged agitation for the formation of Telangana. Indeed, it took very short time to shatter the image of Hyderabad, where a leisurely pace of life was the envy of everyone.

Finally Telangana did happen on June 2 and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti, which had waged a relentless agitation for the formation the 29th state of India, came to power only to face its biggest challenge: changing the perception of Hyderabad.

Image-building exercise

That re-building is on top on the new government’s agenda is evident from the focussed articulations of the Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and the IT Minister K. Tarakarama Rao.

The political leadership is well aware of the apprehensions about Hyderabad. “There were some problems earlier. The political instability at State and Central levels, the slowdown of economy, the agitation for bifurcation of State, had some impact on the brand image of Hyderabad,” conceded Mr. Rao. But he is quick to point out that with the political stability in the State and at the Centre, and the economy looking up, his government will not lose any time in pushing Hyderabad as the destination for investments.

“We need not sell Hyderabad to anyone. It sells itself. Our responsibility is to retain its image and enhance it if we can, but not mess with it,” said Mr. Rao.

He argues that the slump in the real estate industry in Hyderabad will be an advantage. The land rates in Bangalore are thrice that of Hyderabad and in Chennai it is double. “Isn’t this an advantage for the investor? Hyderabad will offer bigger returns on the investment,” pointed out Mr. Rao.

The effort of the government now is to create an eco system in Hyderabad, where industries like the IT will flourish. “Bangalore has that eco system. We would like to build it here. We would like to make Hyderabad as a destination for start-ups and entrepreneurs. The government would guide, promote, mentor, nurture entrepreneurs. We would like set up a Technology Development Bank to fund the start ups,” Mr. Rao reeled out details.

Leisure sector

The young IT Minister, who spent over seven years in the U.S. prior to taking the plunge into politics, is aware that it’s not just the government facilities that usher in the technological eco system. “We need to ensure that Hyderabad is the place for relaxation. That’s why we are making efforts to promote leisure and lifestyle events here,” he said.

Mr Rao discloses that the government is already in consultations to set up up a major amusement park in Hyderabad and talks are already on to host the SunBurn music festival in Hyderabad. “We are in touch with companies which organise film festivals. I can assure you within a year, Hyderabad will rock,” the Minister promised.

What are the other plans for Hyderabad? In addition to improving the civic amenities, the government is planning to roll out a non-emergency citizen services facilitation system on lines of 311 of New York City. The government has plans to develop promenades at all available places especially at Durgam Cheruvu, the lake in the upscale locality near Hitec city. “We want to develop this lake as a promenade possibly with a hanging bridge. This pedestrian only place will have eateries which will promote Hyderabad cuisine,” the Minister said.

Similarly, the government is planning to develop a square near the Biodiversity park on the lines of Union Square in New York. “We have the place and the resources. We will do it. There are no obstacles now as Telangana has got a decisive leadership and stable government now” pointed out Mr Rao.

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Vishwanagaraniki Super Highway

Source: Namaste Telangana   July 5, 2014

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Bibinagar NIMS to Start Functioning Soon

Source: The New Indian Express  June16, 2014 

The Nizam Institute of Medical Science hospital at Rangapuram in Bibinagar mandal will start functioning soon, though partially, deputy chief minister and health minister Thatikonda Rajaiah has said.

Talking with newsmen here on Sunday after a visit to the hospital, he said the TRS government was keen on providing corporate hospital-like medical care to poor people through Arogyasri scheme which was being  reviewed with a view to improving it.

In 2009 the then government had sanctioned  `90 cr for construction of NIMS at Rangapuram but even after seven years and an expenditure of `72 cr, it was still incomplete and had not even started out-patient services. “I will review the situation with the NIMS authorities on the 17th of this month and take steps to start OP services at the hospital soon,” he said, adding that the government decided to develop Bibinagar as a medical tourism hub.

He said the government would persuade the Medical Council of India (MCI) to sanction the hitherto-agreed-upon 220 additional MBBS seats for Telangana state.

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Boosting -- Brand 'Hyderabad'

Source: Times of India  July3, 2014

HYDERABAD: In the days running up to his swearing-in on June 2, the first chief minister ofTelangana had laid out exhaustive plans of developing India's 29th state. Most of this spoke of growth across the state's 10 districts, without singular focus on the joint capital. 

Exactly a month later, that initial plan seems to have been conveniently shifted. Instead, K Chandrasekhar Rao, has embarked on a rigorous `Brand Hyderabad' journey, roping in all his resources to focus on doing just one thing: building and strengthening the image of Hyderabad. 

In fact, his government has now drawn up a 'revamp' project, worth close to a staggering Rs 40,000 crore, to be implemented in the city over the next few years, to especially boost its Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR). 

Of the total sum, a whopping Rs 13,000 crore alone will be flushed into the 202 square km-wide (sq km) ITIR area, said officials involved in preparing the estimates, to be presented to the government. 

KCR has also, recently, asked various state departments, including the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA), Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWS&SB), Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and the Telangana Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL) to come up with proposals to beef up their operations in the city in general and ITIR in particular. 

While some are believed to have already submitted their plans, others are still in the process of doing the needful. 

A quick scan of a few of these readied plans, sources say, indicate the need for big bucks. According to them nearly Rs 33,000 crore will be required to only to set up water supply and sewerage networks in the city, including ITIR, and complete the Regional Ring Road (RRR). In fact, only water supply and sewerage work, official sources said would cost the state about Rs 18,000 crore. 

They indicated that 90 MGD water would be required in ITIR alone. Further, another Rs 7,000 crore (approx.), they said, will be needed for laying infrastructure and electricity, together with beautifying and providing security in Hyderabad, with special focus on the IT corridor. 

But the money isn't likely to be a deterrent to the government. Or so it seems given IT minister, K Taraka Rama Rao, has already ordered the HMDA to take up 290km RRR works immediately. Subsequently, the Authority has appointed a consultant to prepare a detailed project and feasibility report. 

"Our initial estimation for completion of the RRR would be around Rs 15,000 crore, including the cost of land acquisition. But we will be able to arrive at a final only after detailed estimation," a senior consultant of HMDA said. 

The RRR is being taken up in extended areas of erstwhile HUDA, keeping in mind the future growth of these areas. 

The road will pass through villages like Toopran, Narsapur, Sangareddy, Daudguda, Gundelaguda and Bibinagar. The consultant will prepare a report with the details like exist ing land use and village settlements, mapping of proposed RRR alignment, water bodies, religious structures, road crossings, major pedestrian and bridges. 

Apart from RRR, work on radial roads connecting the inner ring road to the outer ring road is also likely to be taken up soon, at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. 

"Detailed project reports for nine radial roads are being drawn up while the remaining seven will be taken up in the next phase," B Anand Mohan, chief general manager, HMDA, told TOI. 

While GHMC will take up the assignment of strengthening the road network, along with laying drains, and culverts within its jurisdiction, similar works outside the GHMC limits will be carried out by the APIIC, together with Roads and Buildings and HMDA. The total worth of their works would be a neat Rs 3,000 crore. 

Similarly, the TSSPDCL too has initiated the process of addressing the power requirements of the ITIR. It is expected to set up sub-stations and transformers and provide street lighting to the IT hub. Their total budget: Rs 2,111 crore. 

"We have identified some locations for sub-stations. The total number of such stations and other requirements will depend on the power load," said G Raghuma Reddy, director (operations) of TSSPDCL.

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