Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy held back-to-back meetings with Union ministers in New Delhi on Monday, seeking resolution on a string of long-pending issues ranging from a contentious land dispute with the State Bank of India to delayed central funding for Hyderabad’s Metro Rail expansion.
The land dispute centers on a prime parcel in Hyderabad currently held by SBI, which the state government wants released for public use, arguing the bank’s claim conflicts with the city’s urban development plans. Reddy raised the matter directly with Union finance officials, pressing for an expedited settlement that has dragged on for months amid competing claims.
Equally pressing is the stalled release of a Rs 13,600-crore loan from the Indian Railway Finance Corporation, funds the state needs to complete its planned takeover of Hyderabad Metro Rail Phase-I from infrastructure major L&T. Officials say the delay has put the transition timeline at risk, and Reddy used Monday’s meetings to push for the funds to be unlocked without further procedural holdups.
The Chief Minister also met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, where the conversation centered on two infrastructure asks: faster clearance for the expansion of Adilabad Airport, including a new civil terminal, cargo facility and maintenance hangar, and quicker movement on a proposed DRDO facility near Devarakadra in Mahabubnagar district. Both projects have been pitched by the state as job-creating investments for under-developed districts.
Back home, the visit drew swift criticism from the opposition. BRS working president KT Rama Rao accused Reddy of colluding with the Centre on the contentious Musi riverfront redevelopment project, alleging the plan prioritizes optics over the concerns of residents likely to be displaced.
Reddy’s office described the Delhi trip as part of a sustained push to unlock central cooperation on Telangana’s infrastructure pipeline, with officials indicating further follow-up meetings are likely in the coming weeks as the state looks to finalize both the SBI land settlement and the metro financing before the next budget cycle.
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