Telangana Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla addresses an assembly session at the Telangana Assembly on March 16, 2026. | Photo credit: Special arrangement
“Telangana is on the cusp of an extraordinary transformation and the government is taking steps to build a state that is a leader in innovation, a haven for the vulnerable and a role model for the world,” said Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla.
Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla said that he is laying a blueprint for accelerated development of the state and said that the blueprint is not just a collection of schemes but a proof of the government’s ambition. “It is about shaping a stronger and more resilient Telangana. It is a blueprint for progress, a commitment to justice and a promise to every citizen that their aspirations matter,” he said.
Mr. Shukla delivered his maiden speech at a joint meeting of the legislature on the occasion of commencement of the budget debate on Monday (March 16, 2026). Greeted on arrival by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Speaker G. Prasad Kumar and Council Chairman G. Sukhender Reddy, the Governor inaugurated the Telangana Talli statue and renovated the Legislative Council building before proceeding to the assembly.
In his over an hour-long speech, Mr. Shukla outlined various initiatives of the Congress government and said that the state will compete with developed global cities and countries to achieve a $3 trillion economy by 2047. “The vision is clear, the direction is set and the momentum is unstoppable,” he said amid slogans shouted by members of the opposition BRS.
He elaborated on the Telangana insurgency vision that envisages the state’s move beyond incremental growth to chart a trajectory for exponential economic expansion.
The state’s Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2025–26 has reached ₹ 17.82 crore with an impressive 10.7% growth, contributing 4.99% to the country’s GDP. Per capita income reached ₹ 4.18 lakh while the government kept inflation at 0.2%. The government has taken several targeted measures to boost the economy that have led to improved agricultural productivity through farmer-focused initiatives and irrigation support. At the same time, steps were taken to promote industrial growth and ease of doing business.
The governor elaborated on the CURE, PURE and RARE economic models adopted by the government as well as the restructuring of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) into three different corporations. He said, “The measure would strengthen democratic decentralization by bringing city governance closer to the people in the true spirit of the 74th Amendment.”
“The government also intends to introduce a legal framework by enacting the CURE Act, which will replace the GHMC Act and bring several agencies like HMWS&SB and HYDRAA under a single framework,” he said, adding that the decision was taken under the Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) policy to rid the CURE area of polluting industries.
Explaining how HYDRAA has reclaimed 1,045 acres of city assets such as public lands and water bodies worth ₹60,000 crore, he said steps have been initiated to revitalize the city’s ecological corridor through the Musi Riverfront Transformation Project aimed at providing drinking water to the CURE area and supplying treated water to data centers and other industrial uses. He also mentioned efforts to make Kodangal, the Chief Minister’s home constituency, a multi-product industrial park.
The government’s main objective was to improve connectivity and improve mobility between the Outer Ring Road and the upcoming Regional Ring Road through radial roads to facilitate smoother traffic movement and support the growing economic activity of the region. The greenfield Hyderabad-Amaravati expressway passing through Future City has been set up to boost regional connectivity and faster movement of people and goods, while steps have been initiated to develop Shamshabad as a hub for bullet trains after the Center announced three high-speed trains.
On the sector, the governor explained the achievement of record food grain production of 236.87 lakh metric tonnes and procurement of 71.86 lakh metric tonnes of paddy from farmers, which meant a bonus of ₹ 500 per quintal for sanna biyyam (fine rice). He also explained the spree of welfare measures like issuing new ration cards to eligible families and steps taken by the present government for women empowerment like Mahalakshmi for free bus travel and Gruha Lakshmi 200 units free for below poverty line families. “This will help achieve the target of one million women becoming crorepatis of Koti Mahila Kotiswarulu,” he said.
Published – 16 March 2026 15:31 IST
