The chief minister also visited Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu and sought approval for airport projects in the state.
Published Nov 27, 2024 | 11:32 AM ⚊ Updated Nov 27, 2024 | 1:27 PM
Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's meeting with Union Minister Rajnath Singh. (X)
Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Tuesday, 26 November, called on Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and sought to transfer 222.27 acres of land from the ministry’s jurisdiction to the state government.
According to a release by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), the land is being utilised to develop Bapu Ghat at the confluence of Esa and Musi rivers in Hyderabad.
“The chief minister briefed Rajnath Singh about his government’s decision to develop Bapu Ghat, a place where Mahatma Gandhi’s ashes were immersed, into a centre for promoting Gandhian philosophy at the global level,” the release said.
Revanth Reddy met Singh and explained the “Gandhi Sarovar project” which will be developed by establishing a knowledge hub, meditation centre, handloom promotion centre, public entertainment places, landscaped ghats, a Statue of Peace and museums at the Bapu Ghat.
The chief minister also visited Civil Aviation Minister K Rammohan Naidu and briefed him about the industrial development in Telangana and the special attention paid by the state government to improve transport facilities.
Revanth Reddy said that the state government obtained the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from GMR — operating the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport Hyderabad — for setting up an airport in Warangal, the second largest city in Telangana.
According to the CMO, the only condition GMR put forth was that there should be a distance of 150 km from one airport to another.
The chief minister requested Naidu to take the steps necessary to accord permissions for the airport work and operate flights from there.
Revanth Reddy also informed the Union minister that the state has handed over ₹205 crore to the Aviation Authority of India (AAI) for the acquisition of 253 acres of land.
He said the state government identified 950 acres of land in Paloncha after the land it had earmarked in the Bhadradri Kothagudem district was unsuitable for an airport.
The details of the particular land have been provided to AAI, Revanth Reddy said and requested the Union minister to immediately grant permission for the airport.
Revanth Reddy also brought to the notice of the Union Minister the outcome of the AAI pre-feasibility survey which disclosed that the land identified in the Peddapalli district was not suitable for the construction of an airport.
As an alternative, the state government identified 591.24 acres of land at Antargam and the chief minister requested Naidu to grant permission for the establishment of an airport there.
Revanth Reddy told Naidu that the Indian Air Force (IAF) already possessed 369.50 acres of land in Adilabad and an additional 249.82 acres is required for full-scale operations.
“The state government is ready to acquire the additional land and hand over it to the ministry. The chief minister requested the Union Minister to immediately grant an airport to Adilabad, which has a large tribal population,” the CMO said.
Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, MPs Ch Kiran Kumar Reddy, K Raghuveer Reddy, M Anil Kumar Yadav, R Raghurami Reddy, Dr Kadiyam Kavya and others are also present during the chief minister’s meeting with the Union ministers.
