The State government’s announcement on the formation of Satavahana Urban Development Authority (SUDA) has come as a shot in the arm for Karimnagar.
Since the formation of separate Telangana State, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had accorded utmost priority for the development of the town. During his maiden visit in August 2014, he had announced beautification of all R&B roads at a cost of over ₹100 crore. Later, he had announced the construction of the State’s first cable-stayed bridge at a cost of ₹147 crore across river Manair connecting Karimnagar with Sabhashpalli village in Manakondur mandal to ease traffic on the Rajiv Rahadhari coming from Godavarikhani.
Recently, he announced the development of Manair river front at a cost of ₹506 crore to encourage tourism while benefiting pilgrims visiting various shrines such as Vemulawada, Kondagattu, Dharmapuri and Kaleshwaram. The Chief Minister also proposed inclusion of Karimnagar Municipal Corporation in the Union Government’s Smart City programme to take up development work at a cost of ₹1,000 crore.
The latest announcement about constituting SUDA has rekindled hope among the residents of Karimnagar and its adjoining villages for a systematic development of the expanding town. The Karimnagar Municipal Corporation, which has jurisdiction over 24 km radius, would now be spread over an area of 580 sq. km. by including 71 adjoining villages from seven mandals — Karimnagar, Karimnagar rural 1 and 2, Choppadandi, Manakondur, Thimmapur, Ganneruvaram and Ramadugu.
After the upgradation of Karimnagar Municipality into a corporation in 2005, the authorities had planned to merge the adjoining 10 villages with the MCK, but in vain. Now with the formation of SUDA, all the 71 villages would be merged with Karimnagar town for rapid and planned development with proper layouts, roads, and other amenities.
Welcoming the constitution of SUDA, Lok Satta Udyama Samstha district president N. Srinivas hoped the town would make a steady progress on all fronts. He suggested that there be transparency and the authorities ensure that all promises made by the Chief Minister were fulfilled. Mayor S. Ravinder Singh said the villages which would be merged with SUDA would be developed on a par with Karimnagar town on all fronts.
