Telangana to involve Dubai Holding in developing smart city

Hyderabad: The Telangana government is said to be in talks with Dubai Holding for the development of a “Smart City” in Hyderabad. The plans were discussed in a meeting between the representatives of Dubai Holding and the state information technology minister K Taraka Rama Rao in Hyderabad.

The Dubai delegation visited Hyderabad on an invitation of Rama Rao, which was extended during his visit to the UAE last month. The meeting assumed significance as it took place just days before Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) was to visit Dubai and other Gulf countries starting Sunday.

Apart from the discussion with the minister, officials of Dubai Holdings also visited several spots including the Shamshabad International Airport region where the Smart City is likely to come up.

The idea of a Smart City was part of the IT Investment Region to come up around Hyderabad. Dubai Holdings has a successful record of developing such projects such as the Kochi Smart City in Kerala.

Taraka Rama Rao also made a presentation to the delegation on the plans of developing skyscrapers in the city around Hussain Sagar lake and also development of Pharma City and Film city around Hyderabad.

KCR’s agenda of visit to Dubai include wooing investments to Telangana in a big way by apprising the potential investors of the immense opportunities available in the state. Already Taraka Rama Rao had prepared the ground as during his visit another leading Dubai company Lulu Group reported evinced interest in investing Rs20 billion.