Telangana Cabinet Pushes for Early Municipal Polls: Key Projects, Metro Phase-2 Expansion Cleared at Medaram

Telangana’s Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Revanth Reddy , held a historic meeting outside Hyderabad for the first time at the sacred Sammakka–Saralamma shrine in Medaram , Mulugu district, signalling a strong focus on regional governance and tribal heartland development. The Cabinet took key decisions on municipal elections , irrigation, tourism planning and the expansion of the Hyderabad Metro, giving the meeting both administrative importance and symbolic significance.

The Cabinet resolved to conduct Urban Local Body (ULB) elections at the earliest for civic bodies whose terms have ended, covering 116 municipalities , 7 municipal corporations , and 2,996 wards/divisions across Telangana. With the Dedication Commission report already received and reservations finalised , the government stressed that polls should not be delayed due to the tight February calendar that includes major festivals and upcoming student examinations, indicating the state’s intention to move quickly on the long-pending elections. However, GHMC elections will be held separately and are not included in the proposed February schedule, pending ward delimitation.

On development works, the Cabinet approved ₹143 crore to ensure year-round water flow in the Jampanna Vagu , by lifting and diverting Godavari water from Ramappa and Laknavaram through pumping systems. It also cleared the Potlapur Lift Irrigation Project , aimed at strengthening irrigation support in Mulugu district by filling 30 tanks/ponds , benefiting five villages , and providing irrigation to nearly 7,500 acres . Land acquisition for Medaram expansion is also being accelerated, with 19 acres already acquired and a further 20–21 acres proposed, as the government plans long-term infrastructure improvements for future generations.

The Cabinet further directed officials to prepare for the Godavari Pushkaralu 2027 (July 27 to August 3, 2027) with a comprehensive plan and grand arrangements. It also proposed developing ancient temples from Basara to Bhadrachalam as a connected tourism circuit , along with an eco-tourism oriented consultancy report to strengthen spiritual tourism and local livelihoods in the Godavari belt.

On urban infrastructure, the Cabinet decided to speed up the process of taking over Hyderabad Metro operations from L&T , and allocated ₹2,787 crore for land acquisition under Metro Phase-2 expansions, especially for Corridors A and B, which are considered critical to easing congestion and improving connectivity. It also approved a new link road project from ICCC to Shilpa Layout and cleared the establishment of a law college in the Mahatma Gandhi University campus in Nalgonda district. After the meeting, ministers including Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy , Komatireddy Venkata Reddy , and Seethakka briefed the media on the decisions.