More Villages Volunteer to Join Future City Project

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s ambitious Future City project received a boost on Wednesday, with several more villages voluntarily agreeing to merge. In a symbolic move, the Chief Minister signed documents approving the merger after inaugurating the office complex of the Future City Development Authority (FCDA).

Revanth Reddy warned the opposition BRS that it risked losing even its status as principal Opposition if it continued to oppose the project and persisted with its pledge to scrap it. Addressing a public meeting in Mirkhanpet, Kandukur mandal, he likened the BRS to the scrapped ₹1,000 currency note. He recalled that every major initiative in Hyderabad — Hitec City, Cyberabad, the Outer Ring Road, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and Genome Valley — had faced resistance but visionary leaders went ahead in the larger interest of the state.

He said Cyberabad had become a symbol of the IT revolution, transforming Telangana’s economy, with land values soaring to over ₹230 crore per acre. “Today, land in Rangareddy district is more valuable than gold and contributes nearly 60 per cent of the state’s economy. Had earlier Chief Ministers abandoned these projects due to political opposition, would Telangana have witnessed such growth and employment generation?” he asked.

Tracing Hyderabad’s growth, Revanth said rulers of the past laid foundations after disasters such as the 1908 floods and developed strategic assets in Secunderabad Cantonment. The same vision, he said, later created Cyberabad and other world class projects. Alleging that vested interests had tried to derail development through conspiracies, he drew mythological parallels, likening opponents to Ravanasura, Sukracharya, Maricha and Subahu.

“People of Telangana have already rejected them. They have a past but no future. If they continue to say they will abolish Future City, they will not even secure Opposition status in the next elections,” he said.

Revanth said the Congress government had laid the foundation for a world class Future City within 150 days of announcement. He said it would help Telangana achieve its goal of becoming a one trillion dollar economy by 2034.

He blamed the previous BRS regime for flooding in Hyderabad, pointing to Tuesday’s waterlogging after the season’s first showers. He alleged indiscriminate encroachments of lakes, ponds, nalas and government lands had blocked natural channels, forcing floodwaters into colonies and roads. “Those who boasted of selling land at ₹100 crore per acre should explain yesterday’s floods,” he remarked.

Revanth said the Congress government had established HYDRAA to clear encroachments and restore water bodies. He cited revival of lakes in Rajendranagar, Kukatpally’s Nalla Cheruvu and Bathukammakunta in Amberpet, alleging that influential persons had encroached on Bathukammakunta and the previous government had regularised them. Efforts were also underway to clear encroachments around Gandipet and Himayatsagar reservoirs.

He said the government was creating a “lake economy” by enabling women’s self help groups to undertake activities around restored water bodies. Hyderabad, he maintained, was addressing its urban challenges while other metros struggled with pollution, flooding, law and order and traffic congestion.

Calling June 10 a historic day, Revanth Reddy said Future City would emerge as a global benchmark for sustainable urban development. He announced plans to attract green pharma industries, Global Capability Centres, IT companies and Fortune 500 corporations, and to host another global summit to draw investments.

He said several villages had been integrated into Future City and expressed confidence it would evolve into one of the world’s most advanced, pollution free urban centres. He assured regular visits to the FCDA office, while Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and IT minister D. Sridhar Babu would oversee work weekly.

“Future City will become a global landmark and a guiding model for urban development worldwide,” he said.