Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Monday, 13 July convened a pre-Parliament session briefing for the state's Members of Parliament at Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Praja Bhavan in Hyderabad, urging them to set aside political differences and collectively press the Central government on a range of long-pending infrastructure, irrigation, and connectivity projects. The meeting, which included a detailed PowerPoint presentation on issues awaiting Union government action, signals a coordinated push by the state ahead of the upcoming Parliament session.

Key Projects on the Agenda

Chief Minister Reddy specifically called on MPs to secure Central approvals for irrigation projects and infrastructure development initiatives. On the proposal to establish an Indian Institute of Management (IIM) in Hyderabad, he noted that approval from the Union Finance Ministry is required and suggested that MPs seek a meeting with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to formally request the sanction.

Regarding the Hyderabad Metro, Reddy briefed MPs on ongoing discussions with the Centre over the takeover of Metro Phase-I and the expansion of Metro Phase-II. He said the Centre had agreed to appoint SBICAPS as a consultant for the project and urged swift follow-through. He specifically called on BJP MPs Etala Rajender and Konda Vishweshwar Reddy to pay close attention to this matter.

Regional Ring Road and Musi Rejuvenation

On the Regional Ring Road (RRR), Reddy stated that 95 per cent of land acquisition for the northern section is complete, but Union Cabinet approval is still needed to begin work and to proceed with land acquisition for the southern section. The Chief Minister urged MPs to expedite this clearance.

On the Musi River rejuvenation project, he said the first phase has reached the tendering stage and that the Centre must issue an approval letter to include the works under the Urban Challenge Fund. He advised MPs to meet Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar to formally pursue this request.

Water Disputes and River Interlinking

Reddy also briefed MPs on inter-state river water discussions held in Karnataka, chaired by Jal Shakti Minister C.R. Patil, involving the Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. He noted that while Telangana is entitled to 15.09 TMC of water from the Tungabhadra project, siltation restricts actual inflow to no more than 5 TMC. He said the state had requested Patil to persuade Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka to cooperate in desilting the dam and canals.

On the Godavari River diversion under the river interlinking initiative, Reddy said the Central Government has taken responsibility for persuading Chhattisgarh to approve diversion to the Nagarjuna Sagar project. He pointed out that Chhattisgarh holds an allocated share of 300 TMC from the Godavari but is not currently utilising it, and that even if the state were to use 160 TMC in the future, a surplus of 143 TMC would remain — potentially allowing Telangana to secure 43 TMC.

Regarding the Tummidihetti project, Reddy said he intends to meet Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to discuss construction at a height of 150–151 feet. He also noted that Andhra Pradesh needs to issue No Objection Certificates (NOCs) for projects initiated during the tenure of the undivided state, adding that there is an agreement in principle and that receipt of the NOCs would clear existing hurdles.

Airports, Bullet Train, and Connectivity

On connectivity, Reddy announced that alignments for bullet trains linking Shamshabad Airport to Bengaluru, Chennai, and Mumbai have been finalised. He added that land acquisition for the Adilabad defence airport and Warangal airport is complete, and urged MPs to focus on establishing MRO (Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul) facilities and air cargo services at these airports.

Coordination Mechanism and Federal Spirit

Reddy affirmed that the state is cooperating with the Central Government with Telangana's interests as the primary objective. He disclosed that IAS officer Advait Kumar Singh has been posted at Telangana Bhavan in New Delhi to coordinate with and provide information to MPs across party lines.

Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka also addressed the meeting, instructing officials to furnish all information requested by MPs and reaffirming the state's cooperative approach towards the Centre in the spirit of federalism. With the Parliament session approaching, how swiftly these requests translate into Central approvals will be closely watched.