Telangana Cabinet meeting highlights : TSRTC merger, Funds for Metro rail

The Telangana Cabinet, which met on Monday, 31 July, approved several key proposals — including taking the employees and workers of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) on government rolls, releasing ₹500 crore for flood relief works, and extending the metro rail across Hyderabad as it is emerging as a global city.

For the metro-rail connectivity project, the Cabinet approved a layout of a whopping ₹60,000 crore over the next three to four years.

Apart from new lines, there is also a proposal to construct a metro rail along the Ring Road, which is about 159 km in length.This would be in addition to 101 km of additional metro rail connectivity which is being proposed.

With regards to the TSRTC, apparently eyeing the Assembly elections later this year, the Cabinet sought to hasten the process of the takeover of the corporation by the state government.Minister KTR said that the Cabinet has constituted an expert committee headed by Special Chief Secretary Finance Ramakrishna Rao to study the issues involved in the merger of the corporation in the state government and taking the TSRTC employees and workers on government rolls.

The decision will benefit about 43,373 employees and workers.A Bill to facilitate the merger of the corporation in the state government will be introduced in the monsoon session of the Assembly, slated to begin on 3 August.

After the Bill is passed, all the employees of the TSRTC will become government employees.Referring to the expansion of the metro rail, he listed out the proposals cleared by the Cabinet.

These inlcude the JBS to Thumukunta (double-decker bridge which will have both railway and roadway); the Patny to Kandla Koya (double-decker); Isnapur-Miyapur; Miyapur Lakdikapul (an additional line); extension of metro rail from LB Nagar to Pedda Amberpet and Hayathnagar; from Uppal to Bibinagar in Yadadri district; Kohtur to Shadnagar; Uppal to ECIL cross Roads; and the Old City metro connectivity.He said tenders have been called for Raidurgam to airport line — a distance of 31 km.The total current length of the metro in Hyderabad is 70 km, excluding the Raidurgam-Hyderabad airport link.Flood relief measures The Cabinet, according to KTR, discussed extensively the measures needed to be taken to provide relief to the people and farmers affected by the recent rains and floods.

He said the rains that lashed Telangana from July 18 to 28 had led to the death of 40 persons and caused widespread damage in about 10 districts.The Cabinet also decided to ensure immediate restoration of the roads under the R&B and Panchayat Raj departments.

The state government has shifted 27,000 people to safer places as the flood waters invaded their homes.He said the Cabinet has decided to honour on Independence Day two power utility employees for the exemplary courage shown by them in restoring power supply in villages after the floods — and also a teacher, P Meenaiah, who saved the lives of 40 students of an Ashram School using his presence of mind and resourcefulness.