Allocate more for Hyd projects in Union Budget, KTR writes to Centre
The Hindu
Minister lists out various projects taken up or proposed for urban sector in the State
Telangana Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K.T. Rama Rao urged the Centre to allocate sufficient funds in the forthcoming Union Budget 2023-24, for various urban sector initiatives in the State.
Mr. Rama Rao said Telangana was an urban State with 46.8% of the population living in the cities and necessary infrastructure has to be created for them. The Centre must assist the State by giving priority funding for the projects being taken up or planned.
He listed various urban infrastructure projects planned and initiated, including Strategic Road Development Project (SRDP), Strategic Nala Development Project (SNDP), Comprehensive Road Maintenance Project (CRMP), Hyderabad Road Development Corporation (HRDC), Musi River Development Corporation (MRDC) and Telangana Urban Infrastructure Development Corporation (TUFIDC) and sought budgetary allocations for them.
He said the Hyderabad Airport Express Metro Project (31 km) was undertaken at an estimated cost of ₹ 6,250 crore with the State government funding and sought ‘in principle approval’ from the Centre for the project. The ₹ 254 crore, part of viability gap funding for the Hyderabad Metro Rail Project, has been pending for five years, he said and urged for expeditious sanction.
Mr. Rao also sought ₹ 450 crore towards 15% of Centre’s equity for the proposed Mass Rapid Transit System (MRTS) in the Hyderabad Urban Agglomeration area for a 20-km length at a cost of ₹ 3,050 crore. He also asked ₹ 800 crore to construct link roads in 104 corridors which costs ₹ 2,400 crore. He said a Detailed Project Report (DPR) to provide relief from traffic congestion on National Highway 65 was prepared and urged the Centre to sanction ₹ 500 crore towards it.
The Minister said the State government, with an estimated cost of ₹ 34.500 crore, has taken up Musi Riverfront Development, East West Expressway, SRDP Phase II and Development of Elevated Corridors and urged the Centre to provide at least 10% of budgetary support.
The Opposition Congress demanded that the government open the Gandhi Vatika Museum, depicting Mahatma Gandhi’s legacy and freedom struggle, built at a cost of ₹85 crore in Jaipur’s Central Park last year, during the Congress-led regime in Rajasthan. The museum has not been opened to the public, reportedly because of the administration’s engagements with the State Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.
Almaya Munnettam (Lay People to the Fore), group in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church opposed to the synod-recommended Mass, rejected a circular issued by Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil and apostolic administrator Bosco Puthur on June 9 to implement the unified Mass in the archdiocese from July 3.
Pakistan coach Gary Kirsten stated that “not so great decision making” contributed to his side’s defeat to India in the Group-A T20 World Cup clash here on Sunday. The batting unit came apart in the chase, after being well placed at 72 for two. With 48 runs needed from eight overs, Pakistan found a way to panic and lose. “Maybe not so great decision making,” Kirsten said at the post-match press conference, when asked to explain the loss.