Overview of the address Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla framed Telangana’s trajectory as an “extraordinary transformation,” saying the government is taking steps to build a State that leads in innovation, protects the vulnerable, and serves as a model globally. He described his roadmap as more than a collection of schemes, calling it “a roadmap for progress, a commitment to justice and a promise to every citizen that their aspirations matter.” He delivered the address to a joint sitting of the Legislature on March 16, 2026, marking the commencement of the Budget session. Before proceeding to the Assembly, he was welcomed by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Speaker G. Prasad Kumar and Council chairman G. Sukhender Reddy, and he inaugurated the statue of Telangana Talli along with the renovated Legislative Council building. [source: The Hindu - Telangana]
The Governor’s speech, which lasted more than an hour, outlined various initiatives of the Congress government and set an ambition for Telangana to compete with developed global cities and countries, including a pursuit of a $3 trillion economy by 2047. “The vision is clear, the direction is set and the momentum is unstoppable,” he said, amid slogan-shouting by Opposition BRS members during the session. [source: The Hindu - Telangana]
Urban agenda and the CURE model Urban development featured prominently in the address. The Governor said the government is operationalising the Core Urban Region Economy (CURE) model to ensure sustainable and equitable growth as the State continues to urbanise. He cited a projection that Telangana’s urban population will reach 53.8% by 2031. [source: Deccan Chronicle - Hyderabad]
Within this framework, the address flagged a suite of urban initiatives: the trifurcation of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC), the Musi Riverfront project, the establishment of a Future City, expansion of air connectivity, and proposed bullet train links. These projects were presented as part of the State’s effort to adapt governance and infrastructure to rapid urban growth. [source: Deccan Chronicle - Hyderabad]
GHMC trifurcation and a unified framework As part of the CURE-led strategy, the government has trifurcated GHMC into three entities — Cyberabad Municipal Corporation, Malkajgiri Municipal Corporation and a reconstituted GHMC — to improve civic administration, strengthen infrastructure planning and ensure quicker grievance redressal. The government also plans to enact a CURE Act to replace the existing GHMC Act and bring multiple urban agencies, such as the Hyderabad Metropolitan Water Supply & Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and HYDRAA, under a unified framework. [source: Deccan Chronicle - Hyderabad]
These structural changes, as relayed in the address, are intended to align municipal functions and urban service delivery with the State’s broader development roadmap. The emphasis on a single framework suggests an attempt to streamline coordination across agencies that affect day-to-day urban life, from water and sewerage to infrastructure maintenance and planning. [source: Deccan Chronicle - Hyderabad]
Targets and tone of the speech Beyond administrative restructuring, the Governor’s tone underscored a long-horizon aspiration for economic scale and competitiveness. He said Telangana aims to compete with developed global cities and countries, linking that aspiration to a $3 trillion economy target by 2047. He characterised the plan as a means to shape a “stronger, more resilient Telangana,” tying economic ambition to social commitments for vulnerable communities. [source: The Hindu - Telangana]
The speech was presented as a cohesive roadmap rather than a series of discrete announcements. It advanced a narrative of inclusive growth — both in the Governor’s emphasis on justice and in the urban focus on equitable development through the CURE model. While the address highlighted large urban projects and governance changes, detailed timelines or implementation specifics were not enumerated in the available reporting. [sources: The Hindu - Telangana; Deccan Chronicle - Hyderabad]
Ceremonial and political notes The opening of the Budget session carried ceremonial elements: the Governor’s welcome by the Chief Minister, the Speaker and the Council chairman, and the inauguration of the Telangana Talli statue and the renovated Legislative Council building. During the address, Opposition BRS members shouted slogans, providing a reminder of the charged political environment even as the speech focused on long-term planning and urban reforms. [source: The Hindu - Telangana]
Looking ahead The Governor also referenced a “Telangana Rising Vision,” which he explained in detail during the address. While the reporting available does not elaborate on that framework’s components, the combination of administrative restructuring (including GHMC trifurcation), a proposed CURE Act to unify urban agencies, and large-scale transport and riverfront initiatives sketches out the policy terrain the government intends to navigate as urbanisation accelerates. [sources: The Hindu - Telangana; Deccan Chronicle - Hyderabad]