Revitalization of Telangana Legislative Council: A New Era Begins
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Hyderabad, March 8 (NationPress) Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy officially opened the newly renovated Telangana Legislative Council building located within the Assembly complex on Sunday.
The historical Assembly structure, which previously served legislative functions in the former Hyderabad State, has now been transformed into the Legislative Council.
Present at the inauguration were Council Chairman Gutta Sukhender Reddy, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, various ministers, and senior officials.
As per an official announcement made on Saturday, the Telangana Legislative Council will commence its sessions in the revitalized Council Chamber situated in the Legislature's premises.
According to the Telangana Gazette, the current Council chambers along with associated offices will relocate to the refurbished Legislative Council building. All forthcoming sessions and routine operations of the Legislative Council will take place at the new Council Hall.
The Budget Session of the Legislative Council is scheduled to occur in this upgraded facility.
Since 2018, the Legislative Council has been holding its proceedings in the Council Hall at the magnificent Jubilee Hall adjacent to the Assembly.
This Council Hall was allocated to Andhra Pradesh for its Legislative Council following the bifurcation in 2014. After Andhra Pradesh moved its capital to Amaravati, the Council Hall was returned to Telangana.
The old Assembly building within the Assembly complex, which had been utilized by the Andhra Pradesh Assembly since 2014, has now been refurbished to accommodate the Telangana Legislative Council.
The government led by Revanth Reddy prioritized the renovation of this heritage site, aiming for both the Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council to be situated within a single, cohesive campus.
The renovation took 18 months and cost the state government Rs 30 crore, revitalizing an Indo-Saracenic architectural gem where legislative activities were once conducted during the Nizam era when Hyderabad was a princely state.
After Andhra Pradesh's formation in 1956, the building served as the Assembly structure.
However, it fell into neglect following the completion of the new Legislative Assembly building in 1985.
Post-bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh in June 2014, the building was transferred to the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly. Once the Andhra Assembly relocated to Amaravati, the heritage structure deteriorated.
Upon the Congress party's return to power in 2023, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy made the decision to restore this heritage building to house the Legislative Council.
The renovation was carried out in partnership with the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC) and featured enhancements such as advanced drainage, high-quality flooring, updated electrical systems, and dedicated spaces for the Chief Minister, Chairman, Vice Chairman, secretariat personnel, and a media hall.
Council Chairman Sukhender Reddy remarked that the renovated facility reflects the operational sophistication of the national Parliament, equipped with comprehensive amenities for members, ministers, and officials to facilitate an efficient legislative workflow.
The government also intends to utilize the existing Jubilee Hall for official functions and is planning to build a new central hall for joint sessions of both Houses.