When political continuity became the turning point
From the emergence of HITEC City — a third city in addition to the twin cities of Hyderabad and Secunderabad — in the late 1990s as a favourite destination for IT companies, to the expansion of Cyberabad and the infrastructure push under successive governments, Hyderabad was fortunate to experience political continuity during its rapid progress over the last two-and-a-half decades
The political landscape of Hyderabad transformed in the late 1990s when N. Chandrababu Naidu became Chief Minister and envisioned HITEC City, a third city adjacent to Hyderabad and Secunderabad. The development of Cyber Towers in Madhapur, completed in just 14 months, quickly became a magnet for IT companies. HITEC City expanded, encompassing Gachibowli and beyond, leading to the emergence of Cyberabad.
Naidu's aggressive marketing efforts secured Bill Gates' first offshore center outside the United States in Hyderabad and brought the Indian School of Business to the city.
The completion of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport under the Congress regime added another feather to Naidu's cap. However, his focus on Hyderabad's development at the expense of rural areas during a severe drought period took a political toll, leading to a change in Chief Ministers. Despite this, Hyderabad continued to flourish under political continuity over the past two-and-a-half decades.
The city benefited from various infrastructure projects initiated by different Chief Ministers, including the Nehru Outer Ring Road, PVNR Expressway, and Hyderabad Metro Rail, which significantly improved connectivity. Nonetheless, poor road infrastructure, unreliable storm-water drainage, and perennial flooding remain challenges. The construction boom often disregarded the city's natural landscape and lakes, leading to the loss of greenery, heritage buildings, and rock formations.
Following Andhra Pradesh's bifurcation into Telangana, fears of a slowdown in Hyderabad's investments were unfounded. Telangana's Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's vision of constructing a grand Telangana Secretariat overlooking Hussain Sagar and enhancing the lake's appearance breathed new life into the city. Young Congress leader A. Revanth Reddy, now the Chief Minister, aims to create a fourth city in Hyderabad's neglected southern region, with plans for river rejuvenation and lake restoration, which could potentially elevate Hyderabad to new heights.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
