With just 15 days remaining before the extended deadline expires, the Smart City projects in Karimnagar and Warangal are far from completion. These projects, initially set for completion by March 2023, were granted an extension until March 31, 2024, at the request of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. However, the slow pace of work suggests that meeting the deadline remains a challenge.
Under the Smart City initiative, Karimnagar saw the initiation of 48 projects worth Rs 837 crore. While 33 tasks have been completed, including drainage improvements, footpaths, streetlights, CCTV installation, traffic signals, and digital classrooms, 14 major projects remain unfinished.
Key pending projects include the Integrated Market at Kashmir Gadda, underground drainage, the construction of a library building, bio-mining, and facility improvements in government schools. The underground drainage system, a critical infrastructure project, is only 30% complete, while developmental works at Padmanagar Junction and Sadasivapalli have yet to commence.
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Additionally, the solid waste management project, worth Rs 24 crore and intended to segregate and recycle waste, is still in the tender finalization stage, causing further delays.
In Warangal, 105 works valued at Rs 944.67 crore were planned under the Smart City mission. However, the BRS government’s delay in releasing its share of funds significantly slowed progress. The Central government had already disbursed Rs 200 crore, and an additional Rs 358 crore is required for project completion. So far, the state government has contributed Rs 178 crore.
While completed works account for Rs 427.13 crore, projects worth Rs 517.55 crore remain in various stages of execution. These include roadworks near the Bhadrakali Temple, the development of multiple roads and nalas, and the establishment of a bio-mining treatment plant at Rampur. Despite efforts to speed up construction, residents remain skeptical about the timely completion of the remaining 22 road projects.
If the pending works are not completed soon, the clearance of project bills from the Centre could be delayed, leading to financial complications for the state. With only days left before the deadline, stakeholders are urging authorities to expedite construction and avoid further setbacks.
The Smart City initiative aimed to transform Karimnagar and Warangal into modern urban centers, but ongoing delays have cast doubts over the effectiveness of implementation. Residents and officials now wait to see if the state government can push forward and complete the remaining projects before the deadline lapses.
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