Rama Krishna Sangem
Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao headed Telangana Cabinet on July 31, Monday decided to merge Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) into the state government. This will bring huge relief to as many as 43,373 staff of TSRTC. This move of CM KCR fulfills long cherished demand of thousands of RTC employees across Telangana.
Though there won’t be any immediate change in either functioning or nature of RTC as a separate entity, a public sector undertaking, its financials will be taken care by the state government. Uncertain financial fluctuations will not affect the major public transporter. To chalk out final details on the implications of the merger, a committee of IAS officials has been appointed headed by Finance Special CS Rama Krishna Rao.
BRS working president and IT and Municipal Minister KT Rama Rao along with some other ministers briefed the media after the six hour long Cabinet meet, that started at 2 pm. “Keeping in view of demands of RTC employees and that of public transport system in the state, CM KCR has taken this decision,” said KTR. This decision will certainly bring cheers to RTC employees.
Metro expansion at Rs 60k cr
Another major decision of Telangana Cabinet is to massively expand Hyderabad’s public transport network by metro rail connectivity. As of now, Metro rail facility is available in the city to an extent of 70 km. CM KCR has laid foundation stone for works on another 31 km, from Raidurg to Shamshabad International Airport. According KTR, the Cabinet has given green signal to expand the network on another 10 routes.
Though the exact length of these routes is not spelled out, KTR told the media that an amount of Rs 60,000 crore would be needed to this expansion. “We will anyway the Centre for assistance in this metro rail expansion, but even if they won’t come forward, we will go ahead,” said KTR. On an optimistic note, the minister said, the coming coalition government at the Centre after 2024 LS elections will definitely given funds to this.
Sources said, this expansion will add another 200-220 km, on all 10 routes put together. The 10 routes approved by the Cabinet are: JBS to Tumkunta, Patni to Kandlakoya, Isnapur to Miyapur, Miyapur to Lakdikapul, LB Nagar to Pedda Amberpet, Uppal to Bibinagar, Shamshabad aiport to Kandlakoya and Shadnagar, Uppal to ECIL and some distance in the Old city. The length of 159km of Outer Ring Road too will be provided metro rail connectivity.
Kurra, Dasoju as MLC nominees in Guv quota
The Cabinet cleared two candidates for MLCs under the Governor’s quota. they are: Kurra Satyanarayana, a former legislator, from Erukala (ST) community and another is Dr Dasoju Sravan, belongs to BC community. KTR said, the Governor will have to accept the Cabinet resolution as per the Constitution. In another move, the Cabinet decided to resend to the Governor the three Bills returned by her recently.
The Cabinet took several other decisions like treating all orphans – primarily those who are housed in government homes – treat them as “state children”, means taking their full responsibility – from education to employment – so that they can lead a normal life. According approval to another 8 medical colleges will fulfill CM KCR’s promise to open at least one medical college in each of 33 districts of Telangana.
