Telengana CM, KTR Blamed Central Govt for Ignoring South Indian States

Telangana Industries Minister KT Rama Rao slammed the Centre for overlooking Southern states when it comes to taking up big-ticket projects.

Speaking at the fifth anniversary of the TS-iPASS (Telangana State Industrial Project Approval and Self Certification System) here, he questioned, "When it comes to introducing bullet trains, why do you think of only Delhi and Mumbai? Why not Hyderabad? How come the Centre did not set up defence industrial corridor between Hyderabad and Bengaluru?”

The Minister also alleged that with reference to location of the defence institutions too, the Telangana state has been subjected to discrimination.

“Defence as we all know is a sector that attracts national and international investments, strategic investments from across the world. So far, I have met four defence ministers in the last five years. I have requested each and every defence minister that Hyderabad and possibly Bengaluru constitute the best opportunities for the centre to set up a defence industrial corridor,” he asserted.

Rama Rao, however, congratulated all the officers who were conferred with various Excellence Awards for best performance and implementation of TS-iPASS in the last five years.

As of December 3, as many as 11,620 industrial enterprises with an investment of Rs 1.73 lakh crores were given clearances and approvals under TS-iPASS. The Minister also announced a funding of Rs 305 crore for entrepreneurs from the SC and ST sections.