Hyderabad pollution-free development: CM Revanth Reddy unveils CURE, PURE, RARE zones
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Thursday, 9 July outlined a comprehensive plan to ensure pollution-free and sustainable development in Hyderabad, anchored around a tri-zone spatial framework that will reshape how industries, services, and rural areas coexist across the state. The announcement came at the inauguration of India's next-generation solar module manufacturing facility in Rangareddy district.
The CURE, PURE, and RARE Framework
At the centre of the plan is a 2,100-square-kilometre zone within the Outer Ring Road (ORR), designated as the CURE area, which has been earmarked exclusively for the service sector. All industries currently operating within the ORR will be relocated outside it, the Chief Minister said. The state has further been divided into CURE, PURE, and RARE zones to guide sustainable development across urban, peri-urban, and rural geographies.
Hyderabad as a Counter-Model to Delhi and Bengaluru
Revanth Reddy expressed serious concern over the deteriorating urban quality of life in Indian metros. He pointed to Delhi's worsening air pollution, saying it had rendered the capital 'uninhabitable', and noted that cities like Bengaluru and Chennai are battling severe traffic congestion. The zoning initiative, he indicated, is Hyderabad's bid to avoid replicating those failures — a deliberate attempt to plan ahead rather than retrofit solutions onto a broken urban fabric.
The ₹3 Trillion Economy Target and Investment Push
The Chief Minister reiterated the Telangana government's ambition to build a $3 trillion economy by 2047, while acknowledging that the current pace of investment falls short of what is needed to compete globally. 'We are striving to transform Telangana into the number one state in the country,' he said. He stressed the need to upgrade infrastructure to attract larger and more sustained capital inflows. The government also aims for Telangana to contribute 10 per cent of the national economy, he added.
Skills, Solar, and Rehabilitation
On workforce development, Revanth Reddy listed the establishment of a Skills University and Advanced Training Centres (ATCs) to equip youth with industry-relevant capabilities. At the inauguration itself, he directed the district Collector of Rangareddy to provide housing and construct commercial complexes for families in Sitarampur village who lost their land to make way for the solar manufacturing plant. He also thanked farmers of Rangareddy district for facilitating the project's establishment.
Political Tone and the Road Ahead
Revanth Reddy used the occasion to push back against political criticism, asserting that despite 'numerous political allegations', the Congress government remained focused on development. 'It's not the time for politics. We should do politics only during elections. The Opposition leaders are pained over losing power, but let us work for the development of the state,' he said. The inauguration of the solar facility marks a visible early step in the state's broader clean-energy and pollution-reduction agenda, with the zoning policy expected to guide urban planning decisions in the years ahead.