Revanth Urges Modi Speed Up Projects in State

Hyderabad:Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to expedite approvals for several major pending infrastructure and industrial projects for Telangana. He sought faster approvals for Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-II, Regional Ring Road (RRR), Regional Ring Rail (RRR), greenfield highway from Bandar Port in Andhra Pradesh to the proposed dry port near Hyderabad, the India Semiconductor Mission (ISM) and defence joint-venture projects.

Revanth Reddy made these requests during a meeting with Modi at his official residence in Delhi on Saturday. According to a media statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Revanth Reddy briefed Modi about a range of pending projects crucial to the state’s development, seeking immediate cabinet and financial approvals.

A major focus of the discussion was the expansion of the Hyderabad Metro Rail network. While Phase-I, covering 69 km and costing Rs 22,000 crore, was implemented, the need for further expansion has become urgent. The previous government did not take up any metro expansions over the past decade.

The Congress government has already submitted proposals for Phase-II, which will cover an additional 76.4 km across five corridors. This expansion is estimated to cost `24,269 crore, with the Centre’s share pegged at 18 per cent (`4,230 crore) and Telangana’s share at 30 per cent (`7,313 crore).

Despite having submitted the proposal in November 2024, the Union ministry of housing and urban affairs (MoHUA) has only sought some clarifications. Revanth Reddy requested Modi to direct MoHUA to expedite the Cabinet approval process, especially considering that cities like Chennai and Bengaluru have received approvals for their metro expansions.

The CM also pressed for approvals for the Regional Ring Road (RRR), a key infrastructure project that will decongest traffic around Hyderabad. Telangana has proposed two national highways to form the northern and southern segments of the RRR.

Land acquisition for the northern part has already begun, with 90 per cent of the land acquisition approvals sent to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). Revanth Reddy requested that the Centre approve the project without delay, pointing out that Hyderabad’s rapid growth in sectors like IT, pharmaceuticals and logistics will cause the current Outer Ring Road to saturate in the next five years.

Moreover, the northern and southern parts of the RRR must be developed simultaneously to avoid escalating land acquisition costs. The CM urged support for the proposed Regional Ring Rail, which will parallel the Regional Ring Road and transform connectivity around Hyderabad.

Another priority for Telangana was a new expressway connecting Bandar Port in Andhra Pradesh to the proposed dry port near Hyderabad. This highway will enhance connectivity, reduce freight costs and support the state's industrial and export activities, particularly in the pharmaceutical sector, where Telangana accounts for 35 per cent of India's production.

Revanth Reddy also advocated for a parallel railway line along the proposed port highway, which will significantly boost Telangana’s strategic connectivity and support the manufacturing sector.

Revanth Reddy also requested Modi intervention to secure approval for Telangana's inclusion in India’s Semiconductor Mission (ISM), aiming to position the state as a global hub for semiconductor and electronics manufacturing. With a robust ecosystem of R&D centres and global manufacturers, Hyderabad is well-positioned to attract semiconductor investments, helping India achieve its goal of $500 billion in electronics production by 2030.

The CM stressed the need for faster approvals for defence joint ventures, especially for the state’s growing aerospace and defence sector. Hyderabad is home to over 1,000 MSMEs supporting global and national defence OEMs, and it has become a critical hub for India’s defence manufacturing.

Revanth Reddy called for a dedicated approval channel to accelerate defence projects and advocated for Hyderabad-Bengaluru to be officially recognised as a defence corridor. Revanth Reddy sought policy support for Defence MSMEs, requesting the Centre to introduce production linked incentives (PLI) and other incentives to encourage investment in this high-risk and high-reward sector.