Telangana CM urges PMO task force to fast-track projects in 6 metro cities
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Sunday, 10 May urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish a special single-window Task Force within the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) to expedite clearances for nationally important projects across six metropolitan cities — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, and Hyderabad. The appeal was made at a programme in Hyderabad where the Prime Minister launched several development projects in Telangana.
The Case for a PMO-Level Task Force
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy argued that these six megacities are engines of India's economic growth and that their development is critical to securing the country's position on the global stage. He stressed that fast-tracking approvals for metro-city projects would also generate substantial employment for the youth. The Chief Minister emphasised that a dedicated single-window mechanism at the PMO level would eliminate bureaucratic delays that currently stall projects of national importance.
Pending Telangana Projects in Focus
Revanth Reddy specifically flagged several stalled projects awaiting Central clearance, including the Musi Rejuvenation Project, Metro Rail expansion, radial roads, and a proposed 12-lane express highway connecting Hyderabad to Machalipatanam. He noted that he had met Union ministers and the Prime Minister multiple times seeking approvals, but the projects remain pending.
The Chief Minister requested PM Modi to convene a dedicated two-hour review meeting exclusively on Telangana's pending projects and approve them. He urged that the state had consistently pursued approvals through proper channels without result.
Political Tone and Appeal to Precedent
In a notable rhetorical move, Revanth Reddy invoked former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's support for the Gujarat model, arguing that similar Central backing helped deliver results, and appealed to PM Modi to extend equivalent support to Telangana over the next 10 years.
He also cited Union Ministers Kishan Reddy and Bandi Sanjay's remarks about PM Modi's 'big heart and magnanimity', expressing confidence that the Prime Minister would approve all pending proposals. Revanth Reddy framed the moment as an opportunity to pivot to development, noting that elections across five states had concluded.
Telangana's Broader Economic Vision
The Chief Minister outlined an ambitious economic roadmap: Telangana, which accounts for less than 3% of India's population but contributes nearly 5% of national GDP, aims to raise that share to 10% by 2047. Aligned with the Centre's Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, the state has set targets of a $1 trillion economy by 2034 and a $3 trillion economy by 2047 under its Telangana Rising framework.
PM Modi's inauguration of the Kakatiya Mega Textile Park and several railway projects during the visit was welcomed by the Chief Minister as a celebration of development. With state elections behind them, the coming weeks will test whether Revanth Reddy's public appeal translates into concrete Central approvals for Telangana's long-pending infrastructure agenda.