Telangana Government Pledges Swift Resolution of Contractor Dues; Seeks Postponement of Planned Protest

Hyderabad: The Telangana government has moved to address mounting concerns from contractors over unpaid dues, with Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy convening discussions at his camp office following a directive from Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

During the meeting with builders and contractors, Komatireddy outlined the government's commitment to resolving outstanding liabilities while requesting that planned agitation be shelved. The minister emphasized that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy shares the contractors' concerns and is actively seeking solutions.

The financial burden inherited by the current administration has proven substantial. The Roads and Buildings Department alone carries over Rs. 4,000 crore in pending liabilities from the previous government. Among these outstanding amounts, contractors engaged in Yadadri temple construction work remain owed approximately Rs. 350 crore.

Despite constrained finances, the government has prioritized payment clearance. Over the past 30 months, authorities have released more than Rs. 3,000 crore to contractors, though Rs. 2,500 crore remains outstanding. Across all state departments, liabilities once reached nearly Rs. 8,000 crore.

Komatireddy highlighted the human toll of delayed payments, noting that contractor suicides linked to payment delays have deeply affected the government. He attributed most such incidents to the previous administration's tenure and accused the former government of abandoning key infrastructure projects.

The current administration is implementing targeted interventions to prevent recurrence of such tragedies. The government has already allocated Rs. 140 crore toward clearing specific liabilities affecting small contractors, LED lighting project workers, and retired employees.

The minister appealed to contractors to withdraw the Chalo Hyderabad programme scheduled for June 18, citing pressing infrastructure needs. Recent heavy rainfall has necessitated continuous maintenance and emergency repairs to roads and bridges throughout the state.

A high-level meeting involving Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka will be convened shortly to establish a structured roadmap for resolving pending dues within three months, Komatireddy announced.

The government is simultaneously advancing multiple infrastructure initiatives statewide, including road development projects, highway expansion efforts, and new connectivity schemes. Komatireddy expressed the administration's vision for world-class road infrastructure and sought contractor cooperation in achieving these objectives.

Builders Association representative DVN Reddy explained that contractors had initiated the Chalo Hyderabad programme to highlight the plight of families impacted by payment delays. Following discussions with the minister, DVN Reddy reported a positive response and assurances that the matter would be escalated to the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister.