BRS accuses Congress government of ignoring infra growth in Hyderabad

BRS MLAs accused the Congress government of delaying Hyderabad infrastructure projects and underfunding development. They cited slow progress, poor allocations and protocol violations, while the government assured funds and action plans for timely completion.

Hyderabad: Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislators on Tuesday demanded allocation of sufficient funds for road infrastructure projects in Hyderabad. They accused the Congress government of lacking commitment to the city’s development. The MLAs urged the government to convene a meeting with representatives from the Greater Hyderabad region to review delays in project execution.

During Question Hour in the Assembly, BRS members sought details on roads, flyovers, underpasses and link roads proposed or taken up after the Congress came to power. Replying to the queries, Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu listed the sanctioned projects and their costs. Works under the H-CITI programme were approved at Rs 7,032 crore. In addition, 49 link roads were sanctioned with Rs 1,500 crore, and three elevated corridors were planned at Rs 7,406 crore.

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Qutbullapur MLA KP Vivekanand said the total estimated cost of these projects was around Rs 16,000 crore. However, he stressed that only Rs 120 crore had been spent in the last two and a half years. He also flagged the proposed flyover at the Y-junction in Kukatpally, stating that despite official claims, there had been no visible progress.

He also pointed to flyovers being built by the National Highways Authority of India between Bowenpally and Medchal via Kompally and Kandlakoya. He said the pace of work was slow and asked the State government to intervene.

Kukatpally MLA Madhavaram Krishna Rao said that during the BRS regime, three flyovers and three underpasses were completed within 18 months, even during the COVID-19 period. In contrast, he said, projects under the Congress government were facing delays.

He added that landowners affected by projects were being offered Transferable Development Rights (TDR), but many were demanding cash compensation instead. “Names of Congress leaders, including those who lost elections, were being displayed on foundation plaques, while elected representatives were not, ignoring protocol,” Krishna Rao charged.

BRS MLAs also complained about poor road conditions, slow progress of works, and inadequate fund allocation across constituencies. Sanathnagar MLA Talasani Srinivas Yadav said corporators were promised Rs 2 crore per division before the GHMC council term ended, but no works had been taken up so far.

He noted that during the BRS government, MLAs received Rs 5 crore each under the Constituency Development Fund, but no such allocations had been made under the current regime. Former minister Sabitha Indra Reddy said tenders issued during the BRS tenure for link roads were cancelled and reissued after the change in government. Foundation stones had been laid with much fanfare, but work had not begun, she added.

Responding to the MLAs’ concerns, the Industries Minister assured that officials would be directed to follow protocol. He said Rs 2,250 crore had been allocated in the current financial year and action plans were in place to complete the projects.