10 years of Telangana: A decade of progress, exemplary urban development

HYDERABAD: Over the past 10 years, Telangana has witnessed remarkable urban development, exemplifying India's growth story. With a strong focus on infrastructure and sustainability, the state government has embarked on groundbreaking initiatives to enhance urban living standards. From the expansion of urban local bodies to the implementation of innovative programmes and the adoption of streamlined approval processes, Telangana has made significant progress. Here we take a look at the transformative changes that have taken place over the past decade in Telangana's urban landscape.

Expanding urban local bodies

Recognising the importance of accessible services for the growing urban population, Telangana increased the number of urban local bodies from 68 to 141 (excluding the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation). This expansion is aimed to ensure that basic amenities and services reach a larger segment of the urban populace. To strengthen this move, the government introduced the unified Municipalities Act of 2019, replacing the outdated Municipal Act and bringing more legitimacy to local governance.

Pattana Pragathi programme

The "Pattana Pragathi' programme was launched in all urban local bodies across Telangana with the objective of improving living standards, cleanliness, and greenery in urban areas. The government allocated substantial monthly funding, to support this initiative. From February 2020 to March 2021, Rs.148 Crores were disbursed monthly, followed by Rs.112 Crores from April 2021 to March 2022, and currently Rs 116 Crores every month from April 2022 onwards.

GHMC's infrastructure boost

The city of Hyderabad played a significant role in Telangana's success stories, with substantial investments of Rs. 67,000 crores directed towards major infrastructure projects. These included the construction of 960 km of major roads, road widening initiatives, the development of missing links and slip roads, and the establishment of the Disaster Response Force (DRF) to address various urban disasters, including the COVID-19 pandemic.

HMWSSB's water and sewerage projects

The Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) undertook several crucial projects to provide reliable water and sewerage services to the Hyderabad urban agglomeration. This included the construction of 62 storage reservoirs of 280 ML capacity & 2,100 Km pipeline work in the peripheral circle of GHMC which costed ₹1,900 crores to the exchequer. Water supply & storage network was expanded to 190 villages in the Outer Ring Road (ORR) area. This was done in two phases. In Phase-I – 164 reservoirs of 70 ML storage capacity and 1,610 Km of pipeline network was constructed at a cost of 756 crore. In Phase-II, 69 reservoirs of 137 ML storage capacity was constructed at a project cost of 1200 crore.

Additionally, the establishment of sewerage treatment plants (STPs) and augmentation of water sources have been prioritised to ensure sustainable water management in the region. To turn Hyderabad into a 100% Sewerage treated city, 31 STPs of 1,259 MLD treatment capacity costing Rs.3,866 Cr. is under implementation in the GHMC area.

Apart from the above projects, 20 KL Free Water Supply scheme is also implemented in GHMC area, benefiting 60% of population in GHMC area.

World class metro rail

The Government of Telangana in collaboration with L&T Group has successfully built a world class mega Infrastructure project for addressing increasing Traffic congestion in the City of Hyderabad by building 69 KMs of Metro Rail at a cost of about 22,000 crore in PPP Mode. The Metro Rail System with its high quality and safety standards gained popularity with city commuters as a convenient and comfortable transport system and it is second only to Delhi Metro in the country. As a PPP project, it’s the world’s largest Metro rail system.

The passenger patronage is now back to pre-Covid levels, at round 4.5 lakh passengers per day. Further, to facilitate emergence of Hyderabad as a global city, Government of Telangana has recently sanctioned a 31 km Airport Metro project from the existing Raidurg Metro station to Shamshabad Airport. This Rs.6,250 crore project is a fully State Government funded project and the preliminary works of the project are in full swing.

Revolutionising approval processes with TS-bPASS

Telangana has revolutionised the approval process for building and layout permissions through the TS-bPASS system. For buildings with plot sizes up to 600 sq yards and a height of up to 10 meters, instant online building permissions are granted based on self-certification. Residential buildings above 10 meters in height and/or with plot areas exceeding 600 sq yards, as well as all non-residential buildings, undergo scrutiny and approval through a single window mechanism.

The TS-bPASS system encompasses various services, including building permissions, layout permissions, occupancy certificate issuance, enforcement, and obtaining No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from relevant departments. The system also provides comprehensive data on pending applications, application data, and financial dashboards, ensuring transparency and efficiency in the approval process.

Recent Enhancements to TS-bPASS

TS-bPASS has introduced several new features to further streamline the approval process and enhance security. Citizens can now request their Land Use Information (LUI) letter online, facilitating access to crucial land-related information. The system-driven and automated issuance of Show Cause Notices ensures a swift and efficient process, while the addition of QR codes as security.

In conclusion, Telangana's urban development journey over the past decade has been nothing short of remarkable. With a strong emphasis on infrastructure, sustainability, and citizen empowerment, the state has achieved significant milestones. The current Telangana government's commitment to urban development is evident in its innovative approach and unwavering dedication to providing a better quality of life for its urban population. As the state continues its journey of progress, Telangana serves as an inspiration and a shining example of effective urban planning and development in India.