Hyderabad: An unspoken rule now restricts entry to the state Secretariat, creating challenges for the public. For the past two days, visitors seeking to file complaints have been denied access, especially when Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is present. Many traveled from distant districts only to face disappointment, unable to even enter the building.
The visiting hours have also been canceled due to “security reasons” during the Chief Minister’s office hours. Officials state that the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) ordered this due to his busy schedule.
On Monday afternoon, before a long Cabinet meeting, Special Protection Force (SPF) staff limited visitor movements, who are typically allowed to meet officials between 3:30 PM and 5 PM. Before the meeting, the entire Secretariat was sealed off, blocking all visitor access.
Even though visitor passes were issued, entry was restricted again on Tuesday, as Revanth Reddy attended the Rythu Nestham meeting near the Rajiv Gandhi statue.
Officials noted that this is the first instance of such stringent measures during the CM’s presence. Lately, he rarely visits the Secretariat, preferring to hold review meetings at the Police Integrated Central Command in Banjara Hills. His Secretariat office is mainly used for Cabinet meetings and foreign delegate interactions.
Frustrated visitors shared their struggles after being denied access. Many came to resolve long-pending issues, such as dues reimbursements, land disputes, transfers, and CMRF funds. They expressed concerns about the difficulty of staying in Hyderabad without prior notice of these restrictions.
On average, about 500 visitors arrive at the Secretariat daily to submit applications to various departments.
