Telangana Seeks Rs 5,000 Cr Central Assistance for Development, Education Projects
New Delhi, May 20 (TNT): Telangana Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu on Wednesday met Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and sought additional financial assistance from the Centre for infrastructure expansion, capital expenditure and large-scale investments in the education sector.
During the meeting, Bhatti requested an additional Rs 5,000 crore assistance for Telangana under the “Scheme for Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI)”.
He thanked the Centre for extending support to states through 50-year interest-free loans under the scheme and referred to the Rs 4,208 crore already sanctioned to Telangana for the financial year 2025–26.
The Deputy Chief Minister said Telangana, though one of the youngest states in the country, was rapidly expanding investments in education, healthcare, rural infrastructure and human resource development. However, he said repayment obligations arising from debts raised through Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) between 2014 and 2023 had placed pressure on the State’s finances.
Bhatti informed the Union Finance Minister that the State government was implementing major educational transformation initiatives through the proposed Young India Integrated Residential Schools (YIIRS) programme aimed at providing world-class education and strengthening educational infrastructure.
He also submitted a representation seeking exemption from FRBM borrowing limits for loans related to education infrastructure projects being implemented with assistance from international financial institutions.
According to the Deputy Chief Minister, Telangana has prepared an investment plan worth Rs 30,000 crore for educational transformation. The plan includes construction of 105 Young India Integrated Residential Schools campuses at an estimated cost of Rs 21,000 crore, along with development of government junior colleges, degree colleges, technical institutions and digital infrastructure at a cost of Rs 9,000 crore.
He thanked the Centre for approvals granted by the Department of Economic Affairs for the Young India Integrated Residential Schools Project being implemented with Asian Development Bank assistance at a cost of Rs 4,049.11 crore, and the Telangana Education Infrastructure Upgradation Mission Project being implemented with support from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank at a cost of Rs 4,903.44 crore.
Bhatti requested that loans related to the two projects be exempted from the State’s FRBM limits, stating that the expenditure represented long-term capital investment in human resource development rather than routine expenditure.
He said the projects were aimed at empowering students belonging to SC, ST, BC and minority communities through access to quality education.
The Deputy Chief Minister said Telangana’s investments in education and infrastructure would contribute towards the “Viksit Bharat–2047” vision and sought continued support from the Centre to accelerate the State’s development.
Finance Principal Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania and Planning Secretary Dr Gaurav Uppal accompanied the Deputy Chief Minister during the meeting.
TNT KS
