Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao's sudden visit to New Delhi on Saturday, ahead of the Union Cabinet reshuffle had raised many eyebrows, with speculation that the TRS may join the NDA government.
However, it was soon revealed that the CM had flown to the capital, to meet with Union Ministers and discuss state issues.
"Government of India has agreed to give the defense lands for the construction of new state secretariat and for expansion of Medchal Highway and Karimnagar Rajiv Rahadari," a press release from the Chief Minister's office said, hours after he met Union Defence Minister Arun Jaitley.
"Jaitley has informed the CM that the Centre is ready to handover the Bison Polo Grounds land for the construction of a new state secretariat as well as lands required for the expansion of Medchal and Rajiv Rahadari. He said that the Centre has examined the request from the state on the matter from all angles and decided to hand over the required land," the press release added.
KCR also spoke to Jaitley to reduce the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on public projects in Telangana, to 5%. It was earlier reduced from 18% to 12%.
The press release said that Jaitley, who is also the Union Finance MInister, said that he would 'positively consider' the request, ahead of the September 9 GST Council meeting in Hyderabad
For a few months now, KCR had openly been eyeing the land in Gymkhana Ground and Bison Polo Ground, for constructing a 'vastu-compliant' Secretariat, Legislature and a cultural centre on the premises.
KCR also said that the Centre had agreed to transfer defence lands to the state, for the construction of flyovers, as part of its Strategic Road Development Programme (SRDP).
The SRDP is part of the state's plan to construct multi-layer flyovers over 20 junctions in the city to decongest traffic in Hyderabad.
Despite being faced with several protests and stiff opposition from activists and citizens, KCR remains uncompromising on his decision.
Protesters claim that the move would kill off a crucial lung space in Secunderabad.
However, the CM responded saying, "There are nearly 500 acres dedicated to sports grounds and facilities and most of them are not being used for sports."
Naming a few stadiums near Gachibowli, the CM said, "This is nothing but to create hurdles for the construction of a state-of-the-art Secretariat and Assembly."