KTR plans high-tech townships in ULBs

​Hyderabad: All major municipalities are set to get a facelift as ‘high tech townships’ under the new master plan which is under preparation by the Telangana government. Satellite townships, recreation clubs, sports facilities, education hubs and industrial townships will come up in every urban local body (ULB) in the state.

A draft plan will be finalised after brainstorming at a meeting to be organised with all municipal authorities by Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister K T Rama Rao soon.

The MAUD department has taken up the major task of promoting municipalities as growth centres. The urban areas which have great potential for rapid growth with available local resources would be identified among the 67 municipalities (excluding GHMC).

Under the master plan, the department is preparing a detailed report on each municipality including prospects of future development in different categories. Based on the report, government would create development zones for education, sports, automobile and health. Private partners would be involved in developing world class towns.

The government would develop basic infrastructure in the identified areas. Depending on the outcome of the report, funds would be earmarked for the purpose. Government has allotted Rs 2,900 crore for the scheme in 2017-18 budget proposals.

According to official sources, at least one municipality in each of the reorganized districts has the potential to grow in a particular sector.

Officials said that basic infrastructure like road, rail and air connectivity, historical background and local natural resources are being taken into consideration to promote the municipalities as centre’s of excellence in different categories. Khammam has been indentified for the promotion of recreation centres due to its strategic location.

Warangal would be promoted as a big textile city and allied industries. Similarly, Suryapet and Jangaon municipalities have the scope of promoting poultry and sheep growing industry. The government is planning to promote agro based industries in and around the two municipalities by exploiting the adequate natural resources.

The officials of the MAUD department told The Hans India that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao wanted to promote every ULB as a centre of excellence by decentralising the development process which would also ensure providing employment at local level and curb the migration to Hyderabad. In 2014 election manifesto, KCR accorded top priority to decentralization of development by promoting the municipalities as development zones.