TRS manifesto promises better Hyderabad

Hyderabad: With major contesting parties stepping up their efforts to capture the civic body in the next month's elections to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections, the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) released its manifesto promising to strive for development of the city.

The manifesto focuses on improving the basic facilities in Hyderabad as it aspires to transform Hyderabad into an international city. The party promises to construct 42 km 4-lane road running parallel to the Musi river and construction of suspension bridge on Durgam cheruvu. It also promises for linking of Ghatkesar and Shamirpet stretch on the Outer Ring Road (ORR) by the end of 2016.

Releasing the 15-page manifesto, along with MP K Keshav Rao and Government Advisor D Srinivas, IT Minister K Taraka Rama Rao said that the manifesto was prepared cautiously so that it reflects the aspirations of the general public. The provision of basic amenities and infrastructural facilities has been given priority for denizens living in the City, known for its international standards.

“We are making feasible assurances, while taking up various aspects so that it reflects the aspirations of all,” he said.Amongst other highlights of the manifesto are regular power supply and modernisation of sewerage canals. KTR said the State’s power production capacity would increase from 4,760 MW to 24,000 MW in next five years.

For continuous power supply, the GHMC area would be provided with 420 KV line grid. As part of developing a ‘power island’, a new substation with Rs 2,000 crore is being developed, he added. For modernisation sewerage, the ruling party promises recondition about 3,5000 kilometres of sewerage nalas across the City.

Completion of second phase of MMTS, procurement of new buses for RTC, restoration of Himayat Sagar and Osman Sagar, beautification and restoration of the Musi river, establishment of 200 new markets on the lines of model markets at a cost of Rs 130 crore and establishment of cycling tracks under PPP mode are some of the other highlights of the manifesto.

KTR said the City, which has 1,500 slums, would be slum-free in next five years, as most of the underprivileged would move into proposed one lakh units of two bedroom houses to be provided by the government. As part of Swachh Hyderabad, the government has already decided to come up with 15 new garbage dumping yards in 200 to 300 acres of area.

Answering to a question on the suicide of Rohith of University of Hyderabad, KTR said it was ‘unfortunate’. While expressing sympathies with the family, he said the government would extend all necessary support to the family. He likened the visit of political party leaders to be ‘disaster tourism’, where everyone was trying to fish in troubled waters.

He said the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will not hold road shows as it would result in massive traffic jams causing inconvenience to the general public. Instead, he would address a massive election rally on January 30 most probably at Parade Grounds. He said they had sought the permission of the Defence Ministry to allot the ground for the public meeting.

When pointed out that AP Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was planning to hold road show in the city, he said he would not comment on what TDP proposes to do. Naidu is in Z plus category and is also a Chief Minister hence traffic diversions may become necessary and could cause inconvenience to the general public, he added.