Kishan Reddy slams Congress, BRS for neglecting city development
HYDERABAD: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy on Wednesday said both the Congress and the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) had failed to ensure basic civic infrastructure in Hyderabad despite ruling the state for years.
Speaking at a “Meet the Press” programme in Somajiguda, Reddy criticised the ruling Congress and the former BRS government for what he called “years of administrative apathy” in constituencies such as Jubilee Hills.
‘BJP only alternative for Jubilee Hills’
He said Jubilee Hills had not elected a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA since Independence but that the party had shown steady growth in recent elections.
“In 2024, we finished third in the Assembly polls but first in the subsequent Parliament election. The BRS slipped to third place,” Reddy said.
He alleged that BRS legislators, who represented the constituency for 11 years, failed to resolve basic issues such as overflowing drains, non-functional streetlights and lack of clean drinking water. “They painted a few roads and called it development,” he said.
Reddy also accused the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) and Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply and Sewerage Board of financial mismanagement, saying contractors were forced to protest for non-payment of bills.
‘Congress failed to deliver six guarantees’
The Union Minister criticised the Congress government for failing to implement its “six guarantees” announced before the 2023 Assembly polls.
“Where is the job calendar? Where is the ₹4,000 unemployment allowance? Where is the ₹2,500 monthly aid for women?” he asked, adding that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was focused only on political attacks and seeking the support of the AIMIM.
He also questioned the government over pending pension hikes and new beneficiaries. “The Congress promised to raise pensions to ₹4,000, but where is the implementation?” he said.
Centre’s infrastructure push for Hyderabad
Reddy listed major central projects underway in and around Hyderabad.
Regional Ring Road (RRR):
A detailed project report (DPR) for the first phase of the RRR has been prepared at an estimated cost of ₹15,627 crore and awaits Union Cabinet approval.
Flyovers and Elevated Corridors:
Amberpet flyover – ₹410 crore
Uppal elevated corridor – ₹627 crore
Aramghar six-lane road – ₹387 crore
Kukatpally–BHEL flyover – ₹136 crore
Railway modernisation:
Modernisation work is ongoing at Secunderabad (46% complete), Charlapalli (₹430 crore), Nampally (₹350 crore), Kachiguda (₹424 crore), Lingampally (₹310 crore), and Begumpet (₹23 crore), where the staff will be all-women.
MMTS Phase II work is complete and new services are planned up to Yadadri at a cost of ₹436 crore.
National institutes and research centres
The minister highlighted several national institutions set up by the Centre in Hyderabad, including:
Indian Institute of Railway Finance and Management (₹100 crore)
Indian Institute of Railway Kavach Centre of Excellence (₹294 crore)
Civil Aviation Research Organisation (₹353 crore)
National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research (₹346 crore)
National Animal Resource Facility for Biomedical Research (Genome Valley)
National Centre for Disease Control and CSIR-IICT Petrochemical Centre of Excellence
He said new Centres of Excellence were being launched under the National Critical Mineral Mission, along with facilities for millets, electronics, and materials research.
Health, education and cultural projects
Reddy said the Centre had sanctioned funds for AIIMS Bibinagar (₹1,366 crore), new SC/ST hostels at Osmania University, and ESI Medical College.
Cultural projects include a National Science City at Tarnaka (₹436 crore), a Ranjee Gond Tribal Museum at Abids, and the National Epigraphic and Mint Museums.
He said the Centre had released ₹1,456 crore for Hyderabad Metro, ₹14 crore for the Outer Ring Rail survey, and also funded Basti Dawakhanas and women’s skill centres.
‘Congress playing politics over Metro expansion’
Reddy accused the state government of stalling Hyderabad Metro expansion by delaying submission of DPRs and project details to the Union Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
“Despite the Centre’s readiness to fund, the Congress government has not sent clear proposals. People are watching how development is being obstructed,” he said.
He added that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Centre had invested over ₹1.20 lakh crore in highways, railways, fertiliser subsidies, and cotton procurement across Telangana.
