Hyderabad: Telangana Government Advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir said the ₹2,278.14-crore Adilabad airport project would boost northern Telangana. He said the joint-user airfield would improve connectivity, investment, employment and tourism.
Shabbir Ali attended the Telangana Praja Palana Dinotsavam celebrations in Adilabad as the State Government’s chief guest. He hoisted the national flag at the Police Parade Ground after receiving a guard of honour.
District Collector Rajarshi Shah, SP Akhil Mahajan, elected representatives, officials and members of the public attended the event. Shabbir recalled September 17, 1948, when the erstwhile Hyderabad State joined the Indian Union.
He said the transition marked the end of Nizam rule and the start of democratic governance. He also stressed the role of gram sabhas, ward sabhas and local bodies in public administration.
The government approved ₹2,278.14 crore for the Adilabad airport project, Shabbir said. It was acquiring 2,009.23 acres for the proposed joint-user airfield.
According to the Advisor, the airport would strengthen transport links and support industries, investment, jobs and tourism. The government was also developing an industrial park across 2,062.01 acres in Boraj mandal.
The ₹40-crore IT Tower at Mavala was ready for inauguration, he said. Together, these projects formed part of the government’s wider development plans for Adilabad.
Irrigation and farm support
The government had taken up Lower Penganga works, the Chanaka-Korata pump house and canal network at ₹2,023 crore. The main canal would support irrigation across 35,000 acres, Shabbir said.
Officials also took up the Pippiri, Tejapur and Buggaram lift irrigation schemes at ₹141.07 crore. The projects aimed to expand irrigation support for farmers across the district.
During the current Vanakalam season, 1,61,121 farmers received ₹327.92 crore under Rythu Bharosa. Another ₹34.30 crore went to families of 686 deceased farmers through Rythu Bima.
Cotton procurement covered 16.28 lakh quintals from 1,03,600 farmers. Procurement support also covered soybean, Bengal gram and jowar.
Housing formed another major part of the district’s welfare programme. The government sanctioned 21,767 Indiramma houses during the first two phases.
Construction had started on 14,948 houses, while beneficiaries had completed 3,968. The government directly transferred ₹337.06 crore to beneficiaries, Shabbir said.
Another 934 double-bedroom houses at Mavala and KRK Colony were ready for distribution. Eligible families would receive the houses through the government’s welfare programme.
Adilabad airport project linked with wider welfare measures
Later, Shabbir attended welfare programmes at Gayatri Gardens as part of the Praja Palana Dinotsavam celebrations. He distributed sanction letters to beneficiaries selected under the second phase of the Indiramma housing scheme.
He also handed over sanction letters and cheques to Kalyana Lakshmi and Shaadi Mubarak beneficiaries. In addition, he distributed spectacles to students under the Arogya Pathashala programme.
Shabbir said the government was working to extend housing, education, healthcare and other welfare benefits to eligible residents. He said development and welfare programmes were progressing together across the district.
Under Gruha Jyothi, 1.06 lakh eligible consumers received free electricity, he said. The government paid ₹104.57 crore to the power utility for the scheme.
Women also benefited from free RTC travel under the Mahalakshmi scheme. Another 1.02 lakh eligible women received LPG cylinders at ₹500, with subsidies totaling ₹23.66 crore.
Healthcare spending reached ₹10.96 crore for treatment and surgeries involving 4,388 patients under Aarogyasri during the current financial year. The government also sanctioned ₹40 crore for a new nursing college building.
It further approved ₹41.70 crore to upgrade hospitals at Utnoor and Boath. These measures added to the district’s healthcare infrastructure and welfare support.
Education projects also received attention during the celebrations. Young India Integrated Residential Schools were being developed at Adilabad, Utnoor and Boath with an estimated outlay of ₹200 crore.
Adilabad recorded a 96.90% pass rate in SSC examinations, Shabbir said. He added that 67 students secured seats at IIIT Basara.
The government also implemented welfare initiatives for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and minorities. Under the Indiramma Minority Mahila Yojana, 100 women received assistance totaling ₹50 lakh.
Another 10 beneficiaries received bikes with ₹10 lakh assistance under the Revanthanna Ka Sahara scheme. The government also distributed sewing machines to 453 women.
Adilabad MLA Payal Shankar, Collector Rajarshi Shah and SP Akhil Mahajan attended the programmes. Municipal Chairman Anusha, Library Chairman Narsaiah and ATMA Chairman Santosh Rao also participated.
Market Committee Chairman Srikanth, Additional Collectors Chitru and Rajeshwar, local representatives, officials, women and beneficiaries joined the celebrations. Shabbir said the government would continue combining development with welfare support across Adilabad.
