KTR seeks Central aid for pharma city project

At meeting with Union Minister Piyush Goyal, he also seeks augmentation of railway services

Industries and IT Minister K.T. Rama Rao met Union Minister of Railways, Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal in Delhi on Thursday and sought Central assistance for the Hyderabad Pharma City project and the proposed National Design Centre here as well as railway freight access for the benefit of the granite industry in Khammam.

Highlighting the features and significance of the Pharma City project, Mr. Rao demanded a grant-in-aid support of ₹3,418 crore towards the external and internal infrastructure development.

Underscoring how Khammam is a major centre for extraction and processing of granite slabs, Mr. Rao said a direct Railway Siding facility at Pandillapalli station in the district will help reduce logistics cost for them. Such a facility will also be useful for import and export of cement, iron, fruits.

Another railway facility, the Minister sought during the meeting with Mr.Goyal was introduction of passenger train services between Vijayawada and Hyderabad via Nalgonda district connecting Mellacheruvu, Mattampally, Janpahad, Dameracherla, Miryalaguda and Nalgonda towns.

On the National Design Centre, Mr. Rao said Hyderabad had been proposed as a preferred location for setting up the first such facility, on land previously allocated for NID. The proposed centre will provide a number of activities, including design consultancy services to companies; engage in capacity building and training for raising quality of design education; and promote design innovation and create design awareness.

Tim Kobe (Eight Inc) who designed the Apple stores, has shown interest in designing the actual NDC building and collaborating as a mentor, while Pratap Bose, head of Tata Motors Design Department has shown interest in collaborating on the automotive wing of the NDC. Stating this, the Minister told Mr.Goyal, “We are excited about collaborating with DPIIT on this National Design Centre and look forward to your final approval for initiating this important project.”

Meets Amit Shah

Mr. Rao also met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and requested for expediting the handing over of 1.62 acre land belonging to the Inter State Wireless Police Staff Quarters to Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation for the construction of a flyover at Rasoolpura Junction in Phase-I of the Strategic Road Development Programme.

GHMC will construct alternative staff quarters for the staff who are going to be displaced in this process, he said.