Hyderabad: Roads and buildings minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy on Saturday said the proposed Musi rejuvenation project would bring long-term relief to nearly 40 lakh people suffering due to polluted waters in Nalgonda district and other areas, besides improving public health in the region.Responding to questions from the media after launching development works at Hayathnagar, the minister said people in several areas, especially in Nalgonda district, had been facing severe health issues for years due to contaminated water. Many residents, he said, had been battling serious ailments such as kidney problems and cancer.Urging critics to view the issue with humanity, Komatireddy said the decision of chief minister Revanth Reddy to take up the Musi rejuvenation project would benefit future generations. “Nearly 40 lakh people are suffering because of polluted waters. The hardships of these people must be understood with compassion,” he said.Noting that major rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna were being cleaned under national initiatives, he questioned why efforts to restore the Musi should be opposed. While about 10,000 families may be affected by the project in and around the Musi riverbed, he assured that the govt would provide proper rehabilitation and alternative arrangements for them.Road widening worksEarlier, the minister laid the foundation stone for road widening from Thorrur Crossroads to Hayathnagar from two lanes to four lanes at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. The works are expected to commence on Monday. Speaking on the occasion, he said the govt had initiated several road development works to address rising traffic and meet the needs of fast-growing suburban areas. A large number of people from rural areas have settled in Hayathnagar for education and employment, making infrastructure upgrades essential.He also announced that a double-decker corridor from LB Nagar to Hayathnagar Radio Station is being planned at a cost of around Rs 940 crore. The govt has already agreed to contribute Rs 200 crore towards the project. “The corridor will have a Metro rail line and national highway on the upper and middle decks, respectively, while the ground level will have vehicle underpasses to facilitate safe local traffic movement,” he said, and added that Greater Hyderabad is set to witness major infrastructure growth, including high-speed rail connectivity linking cities such as Chennai, Bengaluru, Mumbai and Pune.With these developments, areas such as Hayathnagar, Ibrahimpatnam and LB Nagar along the Hyderabad–Vijayawada highway are expected to witness rapid growth and demand similar to Kokapet. Efforts were also underway to take up the 10-lane expansion of the Hyderabad–Vijayawada NH, with tenders likely to be finalised next month after receiving necessary approvals from the Centre. Appealing to opposition parties not to politicise development initiatives, the minister said development and public welfare remain the govt’s core agenda.
