PNS|Hyderabad
BRS working president K. Taraka Rama Rao made a compelling case for Telangana as a national and global model of development at the London Bridge India Week 2025 summit, where he delivered the keynote address on Telangana’s economic and welfare trajectory over the past nine years. His address drew praise from global political and business leaders in attendance, with many describing his speech as the highlight of the event.
Highlighting how strong leadership and policy-centric governance can change lives, KTR said Telangana’s progress under BRS rule from 2014 had set a benchmark for other Indian states and even countries to emulate. He laid out how Telangana had balanced economic growth with inclusive welfare, turning policy innovations into impactful governance.
He described Telangana’s leap from 12th to 1st place in per capita income rankings within a decade as a defining achievement, noting a 156 percent rise in income. “In just ten years, Telangana became the only Indian state to show such a dramatic turnaround,” he said. He cited the state’s industrial-friendly policies for attracting tech giants like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Facebook, which chose Hyderabad for their second-largest campuses globally.
KTR said the number of IT jobs in the state had risen from 3.23 lakh in 2014 to over 10 lakh by the time BRS left office, and IT exports grew from Rs. 56,000 crore to Rs. 2.41 lakh crore. He credited this growth to the vision and guidance of K. Chandrashekar Rao.
Referring to flagship infrastructure projects, KTR equated the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme with China’s Three Gorges Dam in terms of engineering marvel, saying it lifted water from 80 to 600 meters above sea level to irrigate 45 lakh acres every season. He emphasized that despite being a democracy with complex approvals, the project was completed in just three years with all legal clearances and proper compensation.
KTR also spotlighted Mission Bhagiratha, calling it the first initiative in the country to deliver purified drinking water to over one crore households using surface water sources. “Even today, no other state has achieved this,” he pointed out.
He also detailed the TS-iPASS policy, which provides industrial approvals within 15 days. If approvals are delayed, they are deemed approved. “No other state has a system like this,” he said, adding that it led to permissions for 28,000 industries, attracting Rs. 3.5 lakh crore in investments and creating 24 lakh direct jobs.
Recounting Telangana’s transformation into a global tech hub, he called on investors to choose Telangana as their first choice for its progressive policies, ease of doing business, and visionary leadership. “Telangana is a lighthouse for those who dream big,” he said.
KTR’s remarks on stage drew applause from global political leaders and industrialists, many of whom personally congratulated him after his speech. With a fact-filled, confident presentation, he turned the spotlight on Telangana’s model and ensured that the BRS era of governance became a talking point internationally.
