Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Wednesday described the upcoming ‘City of the Future’ on the outskirts of Hyderabad as a transformative urban project that will set a global benchmark and play a pivotal role in Telangana’s economic growth over the next decade.
Addressing a gathering after inaugurating the headquarters of Future City Development Authority (FCDA) at Mirkhanpet under the proposed Bharat Future City area, the Prime Minister said the government is laying the foundation for a world-class city that will shape the future of Telangana and India.
“We are laying the foundations today for tomorrow’s future and will present an extraordinary city to the world,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that Hyderabad currently contributes about 60% of the state’s revenue.
“The value of lands in neighboring Rangareddy district is enormous, worth more than gold. This will be the future of Telangana,” he said.
He said that successive administrations that developed Cyberabad, Hi-Tech City, Outer Ring Road, Rajiv Gandhi International Airport and Genome Valley have transformed Hyderabad into a globally recognized economic hub.
“If these projects had not been implemented despite opposition, would it have been possible to create jobs for nearly a million people today?” he asked.
The Prime Minister accused political opponents of trying to obstruct major development initiatives. Without directly naming specific leaders, he accused opposition leaders of trying to obstruct progress in Mostakbal City.
He pointed out, “Those who say they will abolish Future City have no future. If they continue on this path, they may not even be able to secure the status of the main opposition in the next elections.”
The city of the future will become a key driver in achieving the goal of transforming Telangana into a major contributor to India’s targeted $1 trillion regional economy by 2034, he said.
Referring to the recent heavy rains that hit Hyderabad, Revanth Reddy said the city’s traffic infrastructure has come under severe pressure, with commuters taking between two and four hours to travel short distances.
He attributed the frequent floods to large-scale encroachments on government lands, lakes, ponds and water bodies over the years.
He said: “Water that should remain in lakes and ponds is entering settlements and residential areas due to encroachments.”
The Prime Minister defended the government’s ongoing demolition campaigns, saying that the authorities were removing illegal buildings built on public lands and water bodies.
He stressed: “We have not seized even an inch of anyone’s land. We are only removing encroachments and reclaiming lakes and ponds.”
Revanth Reddy said the government is following a ‘lake economy’ model that aims to restore water bodies while creating economic opportunities, especially for women self-help groups.
He cited the restoration of water bodies in Rajendranagar, Nala Cheruvu in Kukatpally and Bathukamma Kunta in Amberpet as examples of the government’s efforts in environmental conservation.
The Prime Minister alleged that several influential individuals and political leaders have encroached on the lakes and government lands in the past. He said that the government is taking steps to reclaim these lands and restore environmental assets.
Comparing Hyderabad to other major Indian cities, Revanth Reddy said Mumbai suffers during heavy rains, Chennai faces severe floods, Kolkata faces law and order challenges and Bengaluru suffers from chronic traffic congestion.
He said the Telangana government is addressing illegal encroachments and urban management issues to ensure Hyderabad remains competitive and attractive for global investment.
“The world is looking up to us,” he added.
The Prime Minister said that the government intends to attract large international investments to Mostakbal City. He announced plans to bring green pharmaceutical industries, global capability centres, IT companies and many of the world’s top 500 companies to the new urban centre.
