It's official: Telangana will build new Secretariat at Bison Polo ground, says CM KCR

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao officially announced on Wednesday, that the state government would go ahead with its plans of building a new Secretariat complex at Bison Polo Ground. He said that he had an assurance for the same, from Prime Minister Narendra Modi."We asked land for expansion of road from Paradise to the Outer Ring Road connecting Rajiv Rahadari. We asked for 60 acres of defence land from Paradise to Secunderabad Club. Along with the road expansion that will lead to Rajiv Rahadari which is the lifeline for North Telangana, we will build a new Secretariat and Legislative Assembly complex," the Chief Minister was quoted as saying. He also said that the state government was looking into suggestions of replicating the interior look of the current Assembly building. When asked about apprehensions by citizens that the new Secretariat will result in the city losing an open sports ground, he said, "There are nearly 500 acres dedicated for sports grounds and facilities and most of them are not being used for sports. Infact, Gachibowli indoor stadium is being used for hosting weddings." This move comes after KCR's visit to New Delhi, to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Arun Jaitley last month. Speaking to media persons after his 20-minute meeting with Modi, KCR said that the Centre had agreed to transfer defence lands to the state, for construction of flyovers, as part of its Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP).  The SRDP is part of the state's plan to construct multi-layer flyovers over 20 junctions in the city to decongest traffic in Hyderabad. In May this year, hundreds of Secunderabad citizens took to Parade Ground in the city, and protested for days together. Following this, KCR called for a press meet, and assured citizens that, "Neither the TRS government nor KCR will touch Parade Ground. It will continue to remain as an open space for walkers, sportsmen, children etc.” The Chief Minister went on to add that he had asked for land in Gymkhana Ground and Bison Polo Ground, for constructing a Secretariat, Legislature and a cultural centre on the premises.