Hyderabad: Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka emphasized that the State must focus on sectors capable of generating sustainable revenue, stating that “our resources are our investment” and that wealth creation should be driven by effectively utilizing Telangana’s natural and institutional assets.
Chairing a meeting of the Cabinet Sub-Committee on Revenue Mobilisation at the Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat on Friday, the Deputy Chief Minister reviewed strategies to enhance government revenues. Ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Jupally Krishna Rao also participated in the meeting.
Tourism Identified as a Key Growth Engine
Bhatti Vikramarka said Telangana possesses immense tourism potential and stressed the need to fully utilize government lands and assets located in tourist destinations to generate revenue for the State exchequer. He pointed out that states such as Goa and Kerala have successfully leveraged tourism to create employment and contribute significantly to economic growth. He directed officials to aggressively promote Temple Tourism, Eco-Tourism and Health Tourism. The Deputy CM also proposed introducing helicopter tourism on weekends to attract high-value visitors and instructed officials to prepare plans for tourism projects in the backwaters of Srisailam and Nagarjuna Sagar.
PPP Model for Tourism Infrastructure
Noting that several tourism assets across the State remain underutilized, Bhatti directed officials to develop them under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. He said infrastructure development at tourist destinations is crucial for revenue generation and long-term economic growth.
The Cabinet Sub-Committee was instructed to prepare a comprehensive PPP-based tourism development action plan and place it before the Cabinet for approval, along with the necessary policy framework.
Sand Resources and Desiltation Works Reviewed
The committee reviewed desiltation activities being carried out at reservoirs including: Lower Manair Dam, Upper Manair Dam, Medigadda Barrage. The panel expressed support for granting permissions to crusher operators who comply with legal and environmental regulations. Officials observed that Robo Sand is available at lower prices compared to river sand. Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy suggested conducting a feasibility study on exporting sand to neighboring states as a potential revenue-generating avenue.
Increase in Registrations and Land Valuation Reforms
Officials informed the committee that property registrations have increased significantly across the State. They attributed the positive trend to the implementation of slab-based revisions in land valuation, which have improved revenue realization through the registration system.
Transport Revenue and BH Series Vehicle Registrations
The committee also reviewed measures to strengthen revenue collection in the Transport Department. Discussions focused on BH (Bharat) Series vehicle registrations, with members noting a court ruling that upheld state taxation powers in a case favoring Kerala. The sub-committee deliberated on legal and policy options relating to BH Series taxation. Bhatti Vikramarka directed officials to organize a meeting of Transport Ministers from southern states to discuss the issue and formulate a coordinated approach.
Industrial Land Regularisation
Revenue mobilisation through industrial land regularisation initiatives was also reviewed. Officials discussed measures to maximize revenue while facilitating industrial development and compliance. The Deputy Chief Minister reiterated that strengthening revenue-generating sectors, particularly tourism, transport, registrations, and natural resource management, is essential for achieving Telangana’s long-term economic growth objectives and enhancing the State’s fiscal capacity. The meeting was attended by Principal Finance Secretary Sandeep Kumar Sultania, Future City Development Authority Commissioner Shashank, Telangana Mineral Development Corporation Vice Chairman and Managing Director Anudeep Durishetty, Deputy CM’s Special Secretary Krishna Bhaskar, Stamps and Registration Special Secretary Rajiv Gandhi Hanumanthu, Transport Commissioner Ilambarithi, Principal Secretary N. Sridhar, Special Chief Secretary Vani Prasad, Industries Director Nikhil Chakravarthy, Special Secretary Krishna Aditya, Special Chief Secretary Vikas Raj and other senior officials.
