Congress govt eyes revenue growth through tourism, sand exports

The Congress government in Telangana is looking at new revenue streams including tourism expansion under the PPP model, sand exports, improved registrations and transport collections. At a Cabinet Sub‑Committee meeting, Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka directed officials to prioritise resource‑based revenue generation, with plans ranging from temple tourism to BH Series vehicle tax reforms.

Hyderabad: To boost its revenue, the Congress government has decided to explore new avenues focusing on tourism development on public-private partnership (PPP) model, sand exports, improve registrations and transport-related collections.

At the Cabinet Sub-Committee meeting held at the Dr BR Ambedkar State Secretariat, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka stressed the need to maximise returns from the State’s resources and directed officials to prioritise revenue-generating sectors.

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The committee reviewed plans to expand tourism through the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, with a special focus on temple, eco and health tourism. Officials were asked to prepare a comprehensive tourism development plan, including proposals for weekend helicopter tourism and projects in the backwaters of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar.

The panel also reviewed desilting activities at reservoirs including Lower Manair, Upper Manair and Medigadda. It decided in principle to permit crusher units that comply with prescribed regulations for robo sand. Officials were also directed to study the feasibility of exporting sand to neighbouring States.

In the registrations sector, the committee noted an increase in registrations following the revision of slab-based land values.

The meeting also reviewed measures to improve Transport department revenues. The committee discussed legal and policy issues relating to Bharat (BH) Series vehicle registrations and taxes. Bhatti Vikramarka directed officials to convene a meeting of Transport Ministers from southern States on the issue.

Revenue generation through regularisation of industrial lands was also reviewed during the meeting.