Revanth Reddy Meets Rajnath Singh, Pushes for Defence Land and Sainik School in Telangana

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy met Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi to discuss several issues involving the state and the Ministry of Defence, with a particular focus on land requirements for Hyderabad’s infrastructure and the establishment of a Sainik School in Warangal.

The meeting centred on the state government’s efforts to address infrastructure constraints in and around Hyderabad. Defence-owned land in the city and surrounding areas has become an important issue because several major road and transport projects require additional space. Revanth Reddy urged the Centre to consider transferring defence land to the Telangana government for such public infrastructure projects.

Defence Land Transfer Discussed

One of the key matters raised during the meeting was a proposed exchange of land between the state government and the Defence Department.

Revanth Reddy pointed out that around 2,462 acres of land belonging to Telangana at Ravirala in the Rangareddy district is being used by the Defence Research and Development Organisation’s Research Centre Imarat (RCI). Against this backdrop, he requested the Defence Ministry to facilitate the transfer of around 2,450 acres of defence land to the state.

The proposed arrangement is aimed at enabling the construction and expansion of roads, flyovers and other infrastructure projects in Hyderabad and nearby areas.

The state government has been seeking greater access to defence land because several strategically important parts of Hyderabad have limited room for road expansion. The government believes that resolving these land-related issues could help speed up infrastructure works and ease congestion in some of the city’s busiest corridors.

Hyderabad Infrastructure Needs

The discussion also highlighted the broader challenge of improving connectivity in the rapidly expanding Hyderabad metropolitan region.

Defence establishments occupy sizeable parcels of land in and around the city, particularly in areas associated with the Secunderabad Cantonment. The state has therefore been pursuing discussions with the Union government over the use or transfer of selected defence lands for public infrastructure.

Revanth Reddy also raised the issue of the Secunderabad Cantonment Board and its proposed merger with the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation. The matter has implications for civic administration and the delivery of urban services in the cantonment areas.

The state government has argued that closer integration with Hyderabad’s civic administration could help improve the provision of infrastructure and public services.

Request for Warangal Sainik School

Another important issue discussed with Rajnath Singh was the proposed Sainik School in Warangal.

The Chief Minister informed the Defence Minister that the Union government had earlier sanctioned a Sainik School for Warangal, but the project had not progressed as expected. Since the earlier approval had expired, Revanth Reddy requested that the Centre renew the permission or issue a fresh approval so that Telangana can move ahead with the institution.

A Sainik School in Warangal would expand opportunities for students in the state to receive education alongside military-oriented training and discipline. The Telangana government has been seeking such an institution as part of its efforts to provide more educational opportunities connected with the defence sector.

Focus on Central-State Coordination

The meeting reflected the Telangana government’s broader approach of engaging directly with Union ministries on projects and issues requiring central approval.

Revanth Reddy’s discussions with Rajnath Singh were not limited to a single infrastructure proposal. Instead, the talks covered land requirements, Hyderabad’s urban development challenges, the Secunderabad Cantonment issue and the pending Sainik School proposal in Warangal.

The Chief Minister was accompanied by several Congress MPs from Telangana during the discussions. Their participation underlined the state government’s effort to coordinate its demands through both the state administration and its parliamentary representatives.

For Hyderabad, access to additional land could be significant as the city continues to experience rapid growth in population, traffic and construction activity. Roads and elevated corridors require substantial land parcels, making the resolution of government and defence land issues an important part of long-term infrastructure planning.

What the Meeting Could Mean for Telangana

The outcome of the discussions will depend on decisions by the Defence Ministry and other central authorities. If the proposed land transfer moves forward, it could assist Telangana in taking up infrastructure projects that have faced land-related constraints.

Similarly, a renewed approval for the Warangal Sainik School would allow the state to revive a project that has remained pending.

The meeting therefore brought together two different but significant priorities for Telangana: improving urban infrastructure in Hyderabad and expanding defence-oriented educational opportunities in the state.

For the Revanth Reddy government, securing cooperation from the Centre on these matters remains important as it works to address Hyderabad’s infrastructure requirements and pursue projects that require coordination between state and Union authorities.