Opinion: CURE, PURE, RARE—Integrated growth or fragmented Telangana?

Dividing the State into rigid economic zones risks deepening regional inequalities

By Boianapalli Kumar

After carefully examining the recently released ‘Telangana Rising Vision 2047’ document, I felt compelled to respond through this article. This is not a political criticism. From my student days, I have learned the fundamentals of politics, having grown as a student leader at Kakatiya University. With experience as a two-time Member of Parliament and as Vice Chairman of the State Planning Commission, I wish to place certain constructive suggestions before the Government of Telangana.

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Governance may change, but the government does not. A state must, therefore, have a clear, long-term vision that transcends political tenures. There is a popular Telugu proverb that says, “Unable to climb even a small step, yet dreaming of flying to heaven.” This proverb came to mind when Chief Minister Revanth Reddy unveiled his much-publicised development vision titled ‘CURE, PURE, RARE’— CURE (Core Urban Region Economy), PURE (Peri-Urban Region Economy), and RARE (Rural Agriculture Region Economy).

Ironically, the RARE zone covers the largest geographical area and treating it merely as a rural-agricultural zone may result in fewer employment opportunities, forcing youth to migrate towards urban regions

Although this framework was announced as part of Vision 2047, there is no clearly articulated, comprehensive vision document so far. It is unfortunate that even during the Telangana Rising Global Summit held on December 8 and 9, a detailed and transparent policy document was not released.

Three-Zone Development Model

According to the Chief Minister, Telangana will be developed by dividing it into three economic zones.

• CURE: Areas within the Outer Ring Road, including recently merged municipalities under GHMC, fall under CURE, envisioned as a service sector hub and a net-zero, pollution-free city. Polluting industries are to be shifted outside the city, alongside initiatives such as traffic decongestion, flood mitigation, Musi river rejuvenation, and metro expansion.

• PURE: The zone between the Outer Ring Road and the proposed Regional Ring Road is categorised as PURE. It is intended to be a manufacturing hub. Proposals include the Bharat Future City, pharma industries, IT SEZs, bullet train corridors, greenfield express highways, and port connectivity up to Machilipatnam.

• RARE: Areas beyond the Regional Ring Road up to the State borders are classified as RARE, focusing on rural and agriculture-based economic growth. Through this tri-pronged strategy, the government claims it aims to transform Telangana into a $3 trillion economy by 2047.

Structural Flaws, Unanswered Questions

However, this policy framework suffers from serious conceptual flaws. Dividing the State into rigid economic zones risks deepening regional inequalities. How exactly will industries be shifted out of Hyderabad?

Has land been identified or acquired? Have industry owners been consulted, and have they agreed?

What happens to the employees of these industries? If workers migrate along with industries, what impact will this have on the rural communities where these industries are relocated? Such large-scale movements could disrupt existing social and economic stability. Moreover, concentrating industries in the PURE zone will inevitably increase pollution, affect agriculture, and deplete groundwater resources. Farmers dependent on agriculture may be forced into industrial labour, not by choice but by necessity.

Misclassification of Regions

Labelling the entire RARE zone as “rural” raises serious concerns. Are major district headquarters like Warangal, Karimnagar, Khammam, Nizamabad, Adilabad, Medak, Mahabubnagar, and Nalgonda merely rural regions? Will their urban and industrial growth be restricted under the pretext of promoting agriculture?

Several districts already host cement plants, rice mills, Singareni mines, ITC units, power projects, textile parks, and MSMEs. What is the future of these industries? Will non-agricultural industries receive incentives in these regions? The government must provide clarity. Additionally, proposals such as metro expansion, bullet trains, and new airports require central government approvals, which adds another layer of uncertainty.

Lessons from Decentralised Development

Since the formation of Telangana, the State has witnessed balanced and decentralised development across agriculture, industry, education, and services. The BRS government consciously promoted IT hubs and industries in district headquarters, creating local employment opportunities and reducing migration.

China adopted a similar decentralised model. During my recent visit to China, I asked a farmer how his family survived on just two acres of land. An elderly woman pointed to a nearby factory and said, “Our children work on the farm when needed, and during free time, they work in that factory. That is why we are economically stable despite having little land.” This is the true benefit of decentralised development — creating multiple livelihood options locally.

Risk of Neglecting RARE

There is a real danger that the government may prioritise CURE first, PURE next, and RARE last. Ironically, the RARE zone covers the largest geographical area. Treating it merely as a rural-agricultural zone may result in fewer employment opportunities, forcing youth to migrate towards urban regions.

Instead of developing industrial and urban infrastructure in RARE regions, the government may confine them to agriculture alone, limiting their growth potential.

The Core Issue: HILT Policy

At the heart of this entire model lies the Hyderabad Industrial Lands Transformation (HILT) Policy. Even before announcing CURE–PURE–RARE, the government declared its intent to repurpose industrial lands in Hyderabad and relocate industries beyond the city.

The three-zone model appears to be a cosmetic extension of this policy, with industrial relocation as its primary objective. The people of Telangana deserve to know the real intent behind this transformation.

There is nothing wrong with having ambition. If Telangana truly becomes a $3 trillion economy by 2047, it will be a moment of pride for all. However, the fundamental question remains: Is this vision genuinely aimed at the integrated and balanced development of Telangana, or does it serve a different, less transparent purpose?

(The author is former Member of Parliament)‎