Bhatti Vikramarka asks officials to focus on non-tax revenue, calls for fiscal discipline

Dy CM told officials to prioritise revenue-generating areas, mobilise central funds, and complete pending projects based on urgency.

Hyderabad: Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka on Sunday directed officials to focus on increasing non-tax revenue and rationalising departmental expenditure to ensure realistic and need-based spending across the State.

Chairing a review meeting of the Cabinet’s Infrastructure and Capital Sub-Committee, which he heads, Bhatti Vikramarka stressed the need for financial prudence. Expenditures should be incurred only when necessary, and revenue-generating departments must be prioritised, he said. The meeting was attended by Ministers and Committee Members N Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy as well.

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The Deputy Chief Minister also emphasised the importance of mobilising central funds in addition to enhancing non-tax revenue streams. He noted that the Congress government was implementing new welfare schemes worth Rs.33,600 crore without discontinuing any of the previous administration’s programmes.

Highlighting fiscal challenges, he said the State had lost revenue from the Outer Ring Road and excise duties after the Congress came to power in 2023–24. He pointed out that current budget allocations were uneven, with some departments receiving excess funding while others remained underfunded.

He instructed officials to complete the rationalisation process within ten days and prepare comprehensive plans to streamline spending and enhance revenue mobilisation.