Hyderabad: The state Cabinet approved several important decisions on Thursday, including two dearness allowance (DA) installments for government employees this year. They also decided to speed up rural road construction using the hybrid annuity model (HAM) and expand the Metro Rail within greater Hyderabad.
The Cabinet meeting lasted six hours, with Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and his team discussing employee demands in detail. Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka informed the media that the government will release one DA installment immediately, with another following in six months due to financial challenges. A new trust will be set up to provide medical care for all employees, funded equally by employee contributions and the government. The Chief Secretary will head this healthcare trust.
The Cabinet also agreed to clear pending bills, including those for retired employees. They will allocate Rs 700 crore monthly to settle these bills. Other decisions included banning the hiring of retired employees on contracts, speeding up compassionate appointments, grading Panchayat secretary positions, establishing a nursing directorate, granting Rs 2 lakh retirement benefits to Anganwadi workers, and paying all outstanding hired vehicle bills.
To enhance public transport, Information and Public Relations Minister P Srinivasa Reddy announced new metro corridors: Shamshabad to Future City (39 km), Jubilee Bus Station to Medchal (25 km), and Jubilee Bus Station to Shamirpet (22 km). These 86 km of new metro lines will cost Rs 19,579 crore, with both state and Union governments involved. The minister urged BJP MPs and Union ministers to push for swift central approvals.
The Cabinet approved the development of R & B roads and Panchayat Raj roads under the HAM model. The R & B will develop 5,100 km of roads, while Panchayat Raj will focus on a 7,900 km network. All road projects are to be completed in two years, with maintenance assigned for 15 years. An Earth Science University in Kothagudem district will be named after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Additionally, the Cabinet decided to provide a Rs 10 lakh insurance payout to self-help group members’ families in case of death.
