The facility is expected to benefit over 3,000 visitors who queue up at the consulate daily.
Hyderabad:The government on Wednesday inaugurated a dedicated waiting area for visa applicants outside the US Consulate General in Hyderabad at the Financial District, aiming to ease congestion and enhance the visitor experience.
IT minister D. Sridhar Babu inaugurated the 'Telangana State Consular Waiting Area,' a state-of-the-art facility constructed at a cost of Rs 1.5 crore by the Telangana Industrial Infrastructure Corporation. The facility is expected to benefit over 3,000 visitors who queue up at the consulate daily.
“This is more than an infrastructure upgrade — it represents our broader commitment to strengthening global ties, especially with the United States,” Sridhar Babu said, noting the consulate’s importance to Telangana's international outreach.
“The United States continues to be Telangana’s top trade partner in sectors including pharmaceuticals, aerospace, electronics and electric vehicles. Nearly 38 per cent of the state’s IT exports are destined for North America, and Hyderabad remains home to major US firms such as Google, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft. In January alone, US companies invested Rs 31,500 crore in Telangana, generating over 30,000 jobs,” he explained.
The inauguration also served as a farewell to Jennifer Larson, the outgoing US Consul General in Hyderabad. Sridhar Babu honoured her with a handloom sari, symbolising Telangana’s cultural pride and hospitality. He praised Larson for her role in deepening Indo-US ties in trade, education and culture and expressed confidence that the bond would continue to grow.
Larson expressed gratitude to the state government for its proactive support. “As I conclude my time as US Consul General, I am so delighted to have this opportunity to reflect on this facility and how it stands as a great testament to the enduring strength of the U.S.-Indian partnership. It shows us how governments can work together to improve the citizen services while strengthening our bilateral ties,” she said.
TG endowments dept goes digital
Hyderabad:In a major step toward digital governance, the Telangana endowments department has launched its new e-Office system at the state Secretariat, marking a significant push toward digital governance. Inaugurated by endowments minister Konda Surekha, the platform is designed to replace traditional file handling with digital workflows that promise faster processing, greater transparency and improved accountability.
Surekha highlighted the benefits of the digital platform, explaining that it allows officials to process and track files remotely without the need for physical presence, thereby expediting work. “The system would significantly reduce issues related to file loss, theft, damage and eliminate confusion in file handling by creating a clear, accountable audit trail. The new setup also enables urgent files to be flagged for priority action and drastically minimises intermediary involvement, curtailing unnecessary bottlenecks,” she explained.
Developed by the National Informatics Centre, the e-Office software mirrors existing manual processes but brings the added advantage of anytime-anywhere accessibility. The department plans to extend the e-Office system to the Yadagirigutta temple and more than 30 other major temple administrations across the state.
As part of the launch, Surekha sanctioned a compassionate appointment for a staff member, Naveen Kumar, using the digital system, demonstrating its operational readiness. She commended endowments commissioner S. Venkata Rao for leading the transition and training staff to adapt to the platform.
Calling the initiative a milestone for modern governance, Surekha said the endowments department was setting an example for other departments in embracing efficiency and accountability.
