Congress party makes 23 major promises in a special manifesto for Telangana

HYDERABAD: The Congress party released a separate manifesto for Telangana on Friday, ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. This special manifesto complements the Congress Nyay Patra, the party's national manifesto, by addressing specific issues relevant to Telangana.

The manifesto included a set of guarantees, such as reviving the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project, which the BJP government had cancelled. It also called for fulfilling five promises outlined in the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Act of 2014: establishing a Railway Coach Factory at Qazipet; building a Steel Plant at Bayyaram; launching an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Hyderabad; developing a Rapid Railway System from Hyderabad to Vijayawada along the National Highway; and establishing a University of Mining.

Additionally, the Congress party also promised the re-merger of five villages, Etapaka, Gundala, Purushottampatnam, Kannegudem, and Pichukalapadu, which were merged with Andhra Pradesh, in view of their significance to the development of the Bhadrachalam Temple.

The special manifesto also covered broader infrastructure and educational goals, including granting national status to the Palamuru Rangareddy Project, establishing a NITI Aayog Regional Office in Hyderabad, building new airports, constructing the Ramagundam-Manuguru railway line, establishing four new military schools, doubling the number of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas, and creating a National Sports University.

In terms of advanced research and education, the Congress party proposed creating an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), an Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT), an Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) campus, a National Aviation University, and a Central Medical Research Institute under the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR).

The manifesto also mentioned the direct transfer of central government funds to village sarpanches according to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments.

Other infrastructure projects included developing the Hyderabad-Bangalore IT and Industrial Corridor, constructing the Hyderabad-Nagpur Industrial Corridor, creating the Hyderabad-Warangal Industrial Corridor, establishing the Miryalaguda Industrial Corridor from Hyderabad via Nalgonda, and launching the Singareni Industrial Corridor.

If voted to power at the Centre, the Congress party pledged to establish an International Cultural and Entertainment Hub, grant national status to the Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jatara, create a dry port in Telangana, and set up a Supreme Court Bench in Hyderabad.

Speaking at the event, TPCC Manifesto Committee Chairman and Minister D. Sridhar Babu criticised the previous BRS regime, stating that Telangana's economy was in bad shape due to mismanagement. He claimed that within 100 days of forming a Congress government, they would put the economy back on track. He also criticised both the BJP and BRS for not delivering on their promises since the formation of Telangana. "We have identified 23 major points and incorporated them into the special manifesto. Once the Congress party comes to power at the Centre, we will fulfill all promises, including those outlined in the AP Reorganisation Act," he said.

Congress Party's Promises in the Telangana Special Manifesto

• Revive the Information Technology Investment Region (ITIR) project
• Establish a Railway Coach Factory at Qazipet
• Build a Steel Plant at Bayyaram
• Launch an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Hyderabad
• Develop a Rapid Railway System from Hyderabad to Vijayawada along the National Highway
• Establish a University of Mining
• Grant national status to the Palamuru Rangareddy Project
• Establish a NITI Aayog Regional Office in Hyderabad
• Build new airports
• Construct the Ramagundam-Manuguru railway line
• Develop the Hyderabad-Bangalore IT and Industrial Corridor
• Construct the Hyderabad-Nagpur Industrial Corridor
• Create the Hyderabad-Warangal Industrial Corridor
• Establish the Miryalaguda Industrial Corridor from Hyderabad via Nalgonda
• Launch the Singareni Industrial Corridor
• Establish an International Cultural and Entertainment Hub
• Grant national status to the Medaram Sammakka Saralamma Jatara
• Create a dry port in Telangana
• Set up a Supreme Court Bench in Hyderabad
• Double the number of Kendriya Vidyalayas and Navodaya Vidyalayas
• Establish a National Sports University
• Create an Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)
• Establish an Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT)
• Establish an Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI) campus
• Create a National Aviation University
• Establish a Central Medical Research Institute under the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR)
• Establish four new military schools
• Re-merge the villages of Etapaka, Gundala, Purushottampatnam, Kannegudem, and Pichukalapadu with Telangana
• Directly transfer central government funds to village sarpanches according to the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments