Clears DA hikes, Rs. 33,000 crore road works, Metro Phase 2B
PNS|Hyderabad
In a slew of major decisions benefiting employees, farmers, and infrastructure development, the Telangana State Cabinet on Wednesday approved two Dearness Allowance (DA) hikes for government staff and retirees, cleared a Rs. 33,000 crore road development plan, and gave its nod for the long-pending Metro Phase 2B expansion in Hyderabad.
After assuming charge as Telangana Chief Secretary, K. Rama Krishna Rao extended a warm welcome to Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and the Council of Ministers at the cabinet meeting at the Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat.
Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, who briefed the Cabinet on talks held with employee associations, said that the state will pay one DA installment immediately and release the second one after six months. The first DA, pending since January 1, 2023, will be disbursed along with arrears in 28 instalments. The second DA will be announced in April next year.
The Cabinet also approved a Rs. 700 crore monthly provision to clear pending dues to employees in a phased and timely manner. Further, based on recommendations of the committee formed on May 6, the government examined 57 demands from unions. While some were cleared, others were taken up for further scrutiny. In a significant move, the Cabinet decided to constitute a Health Care Trust to manage employee health cards. This trust will have both officials and employee representatives as members.
Other key HR-related decisions include conducting Departmental Promotion Committees (DPCs) annually in September, establishing a State-Level Medical Invalidity Committee, recognising associations and Joint State Council, and amending GO 317 to include more categories.
On the infrastructure front, the Cabinet approved the development of 13,137 km of roads across all constituencies under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). This includes 7,947 km of Panchayat Raj roads and 5,190 km of Roads & Buildings roads. The projected cost is Rs. 16,780 crore for Panchayat Raj roads and Rs. 16,414 crore for R&B roads. Agencies will be responsible for construction over two years and maintenance for 15 years. Road packages will be planned either parliamentary constituency-wise or district-wise.
In Hyderabad, the Cabinet gave its green signal to Metro Phase 2B, a joint venture of the Centre and the State, covering 86.1 km at an estimated cost of Rs. 19,579 crore. The plan includes three corridors: Corridor-1 from Shamshabad Airport to Future City (39.6 km), Corridor-2 from Jubilee Bus Station to Medchal (24.5 km), and Corridor-3 from Jubilee Bus Station to Shamirpet (22 km).
In an emotional tribute, the Cabinet resolved to name the newly established Telangana Earth Sciences University at Kothagudem after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
On the agriculture front, the Cabinet reaffirmed its commitment to continue bonus support for fine rice (sanna dhanayam) growers. It noted that bonus payments in the past had encouraged production and benefited small and marginal farmers.
In another decision, the Cabinet allocated Rs. 38.5 crore to Streenidhi to implement accident insurance for Self Help Group women. Compensation for 385 bereaved families will be provided directly through Streenidhi, bypassing private insurance firms.
