Telangana Cabinet Greenlights Municipal Elections and Infrastructure Boost

The Telangana Cabinet schedules early municipal elections, approves infrastructure projects, and plans cultural heritage developments. It aims to ensure smooth elections amid festivals and boosts infrastructure through land acquisition, metro expansion, and eco-town development. Additionally, new academic positions and traffic solutions receive approval.

In a decisive move, the Telangana State Cabinet has mandated early municipal elections, instructing officials to finalize arrangements by February. This decision was made during a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy in Medaram, Mulugu district, as reported by the Telangana Chief Minister's Office.

A total of 116 municipalities and seven municipal corporations, encompassing 2,996 wards and divisions, are due for elections. Amidst the upcoming festivals of Ramzan and Maha Shivaratri, the Cabinet advised creating an election schedule that mitigates any disruptions to public life.

Furthermore, the Cabinet announced cultural and infrastructural initiatives, including the Godavari Pushkaralu slated for July 27 to August 3, 2027. Development plans for ancient temple sites and eco-tourism along the Godavari river from Basara to Bhadrachalam were discussed, with a detailed inter-departmental report due by March 31.

The meeting also reviewed Hyderabad Metro Rail developments and proposed new metro corridors pending Central Government approval. The Cabinet emphasized land acquisitions, authorizing ₹2,787 crore for the same. Other initiatives greenlit included new academic posts at Mahatma Gandhi University and Veeranari Chakali Ilamma Women's University, as well as an eco-town project near Hyderabad.

To alleviate traffic in Hyderabad, the government approved a 9-km road from ICCC in Banjara Hills to Shilpa Layout Road. In the Mulugu district, the Potlapur Lift Irrigation Project was sanctioned to aid irrigation over 7,500 acres, at a cost of ₹143 crore.

(With inputs from agencies.)