Mumbai, Feb 18 (TNT): Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy on Wednesday outlined an ambitious roadmap to transform the state into a $1 trillion economy by 2034, asserting that economic growth and environmental sustainability must advance together in the face of a climate emergency.
Addressing Mumbai Climate Week, Reddy said understanding India’s 2047 goals requires revisiting its development trajectory since 1947.
He noted that between 1950 and 1990, India focused on education and irrigation, building institutions from village schools to premier institutes such as the IITs, IIMs and the Indian Institute of Science, while constructing major dams for power and irrigation.
By 1990, he said, the country had achieved food sufficiency, improved life expectancy and earned global recognition for its skilled professionals.
From 1991 to 2020, the focus shifted to liberalisation, privatisation and globalisation (LPG), which positioned India as a global services hub powered by telecom and software growth.
While this phase delivered significant gains and attracted global technology firms, he said the manufacturing opportunity was largely missed. The Covid-19 pandemic and climate change, he added, have since reshaped government priorities.
Calling energy the “real currency” of any economy, Reddy said development is reflected in power generation and consumption. Telangana currently records an average daily consumption of 16,610 MW, with a peak demand of 17,162 MW last year.
The demand is expected to exceed 19,000 MW this year and cross 34,000 MW by 2034. Nearly 25 per cent of the state’s energy mix is sourced from green power, he said.
The Chief Minister reiterated Telangana’s plan to expand its economy from $200 billion to $1 trillion by 2034 and to $3 trillion by 2047.
He identified key pillars of future growth as economy, environment, education and skills, energy, employment, entrepreneurship and wealth creation.
Outlining a new spatial development strategy, he said the state has structured its growth into three zones — CURE (Core Urban Region Economy), PURE (Planned Urban and Rural Economy) and RARE (Regional and Rural Economy).
Hyderabad has been designated as the CURE zone within the 160-km Outer Ring Road. The PURE zone, between the Outer Ring Road and the proposed 360-km Regional Ring Road, will be developed as a green-energy-powered manufacturing hub positioned as a “China+1” alternative.
In Hyderabad, taxes on electric vehicles have been removed to accelerate adoption, while discussions are underway with EV manufacturers for investments, he said over 2 lakh autorickshaws are being retrofitted with green alternatives, more than 3,500 state-run RTC buses are being replaced with electric buses, and the Metro network is being expanded from 71 km to over 200 km.
Industries are being gradually shifted from the core urban region to peri-urban areas, he said.
Highlighting sustainability initiatives, Reddy cited the rejuvenation of the Musi River, restoration of lakes, strengthening of water and energy grids, and the establishment of HYDRAA, described as India’s first dedicated environmental police force.
Hyderabad is targeted to achieve Net Zero by 2034 and will soon undertake a comprehensive carbon footprint audit, he said.
Concluding his address, the Chief Minister said every additional unit of green energy benefits the state, the country and the planet, underscoring the need for a manufacturing revolution anchored in clean power.
TNT KS
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