Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy today lashed out at the Congress leaders for “destroying Telangana and looting Hyderabad and collapsing system of governance”. He slammed Leader of Opposition in Council Shabbir Ali for speaking on development in the House.
During question hour, the Home Minister slammed Shabbir Ali for criticizing the government on development. “It is ridiculous that the Congress, which gained notoriety for corruption and irregularities, was now talking on development and growth”, he charged.
“While the Congress looted Telangana for 50 years during its misrule, the TRS Government in three years developed Hyderabad speedily and will develop further”, Narsimha Reddy said, adding that steps were being taken to curb traffic problems in the twin cities. “We intend to develop the city into a place wherein there will be no need of traffic signals”, he said.
In the legislative Council, the Home Minister said the average speed of traffic movement in the city has gone up from 18 kmph to 27.1 kmph. “Such an increase means that Hyderabadis now drive at a speed 50 per cent higher than they did in recent years”. The minister quoted a survey conducted by a cab aggregator in January 2017, which recorded average speed and traffic spots in various cities across the country.
‘Steps on to end vehicle traffic jams’
Replying to a question raised by MLC Poola Ravinder in the Council on massive traffic jams that are increasing by the day in several parts of the city, he said the government was taking several steps to regulate traffic. Police are focusing on traffic regulation instead of enforcement during peak hours, he said. The government was leaving no stone unturned in addressing traffic issues, he said.
Stating that focus was also laid on clearing encroachments on pavements, he said, “As it will render many petty businessmen jobless, we are providing an alternative site to them,” he said, adding that about 80 per cent of penalties were being collected through e-challans, based on images of violations captured through surveillance cameras, instead of by issuing challans manually.
The Home Minister also said they were taking several initiatives, especially construction of skyways over flyovers, and junction improvement, in coordination with GHMC, Roads & Buildings department and Secunderabad Cantonment Board, to ensure a hassle-free drive for all, Narasimha Reddy said. (NSS)