Rama Krishna Sangem
Hyderabad will go truly global next year. This fastest growing city of India will host 9th edition of Formula E racing (of electric cars) in February-March 2023. With this, Hyderabad will become the first Indian city to host this prestigious international car racing event. Hyderabad will be one of 18 cities across the globe to host this fledgling sports event so far. Formula E was launched in 2011, and the first edition was held in 2014.
The first edition began in China and concluded in the UK. Though not a rival to Formula One car racing, this Formula E can be termed as a futuristic version as it allows only electric cars, run on clean energy, unlike the other one with fossil fuels. If Hyderabad can host it successfully, it will not just join the select group of global cities, but also the brand value of Telangana will go up nationally and internationally.
8th edition of Formula E racing for 2021 was held at Diriyah, in the Gulf. The ABB FIA (a joint venture of a Sweden based ABB, that handles electric cars equipment, and a French based Federation of International Automobiles) held it. The famous Formula One too was held by FIA. Formula E is a race among single seater electric cars, with max speed limit of 280 km per hour while Formula One is of regular fuel cars, with speed up to 300 kmph.
Hosting of this event in Hyderabad was announced in the Annual Report of Municipal Administration & Urban Development (MA&UD) department of Telangana for 2021-22, released on June 3, Friday. MA&UD portfolio is held by KT Rama Rao (KTR) in the KCR led TRS government. Special Chief Secretary Arvind Kumar heads of the team of MA&UD officials.
It is to be seen, if the Narendra Modi led Centre would allow Telangana hold this prestigious sports event in Hyderabad, in view of escalated political tensions between the two ruling parties – TRS in the State and BJP in New Delhi. But such obstacles are remote and Hyderabad is sure to host this event as it’s matter of pride for the entire country. The Formula E was mentioned in The Way Forward section of the annual report.
The 158 page report projects Hyderabad as the fastest growing city in India, with Telangana leading the urbanization at a rapid speed -around 46.8 per cent people, living in urban areas (national average 31.6 per cent), Telangana ranks fourth in this category among other states. However, in next three years, by 2025, Telangana will have 50 per cent of its population in towns and cities. Hyderabad aims to be one among 30 leading cities in the world.
Fast expanding Hyderabad city limits and the soon coming Regional Ring Road around this city will also stretch the resources like drinking water supply and drainage network. The report says that the government is well prepared to tackle these challenges. The report mentions the existing 19.8 MW Waste to Energy project at Jawaharnagar in the city will be enhanced to 48 MW. Another such plant with 14.5 MW will come up at Dundigal.
A 21 km cycle track on ORR (Outer Ring Road) around Hyderabad with solar covered roofing is another highlight of the upcoming projects of MA&UD. The department has set a target of ensuring 100 per cent treatment of sewage in Hyderabad city. For this HMWSSB (Hyderabad Metro Water Supply and Sewage Board) will set up 31 treatment plants across the city.
Besides Arvind Kumar, IAS, other officials include: MA&UD secretary Sudarshan Reddy, IAS, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation Commissioner Lokesh Kumar, IAS, HWMSSB Managing Director M Dana Kishore, IAS, Municipal administration director N Sathyanarayana, IAS, Engineer in Chief R Sridhar and director planning K Vidyadhara Rao.
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