KT Rama Rao (KTR), the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), strongly condemned the Congress government’s recent decision to require apartment residents in Hyderabad to install their own transformers to meet the city’s growing power demands. KTR referred to the policy, enforced through notices by the Telangana State Southern Power Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL), as a “Tughlaq move,” comparing it to an ineffective and outdated decision from history.
KTR criticized the government for shifting the responsibility onto citizens. He pointed out that the cost of installing a transformer per apartment complex could be around Rs 3 lakh, resulting in an additional financial burden of Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per household. He estimated that this decision could cost Hyderabad residents a total of Rs 300 crore.
Highlighting the irony, KTR reminded that the Congress government had promised free electricity up to 200 units, but now it was imposing heavy costs on citizens. “People are already paying for their electricity consumption, and the government must invest in infrastructure rather than burdening the public,” KTR said.
KTR further criticized the policy, likening it to asking residents to install their own pipelines and roads if usage increases. He deemed the move a reflection of the government’s inefficiency and lack of planning.
In a call for action, KTR urged Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy to withdraw the decision, saying governments exist to serve the people, not impose unfair burdens. He also accused the government of approving construction projects without ensuring sufficient transformer capacity and held builders and officials accountable for these oversights.
The BRS leader also addressed the broader issue of unannounced power cuts, accusing the government of indifference to public suffering. KTR warned that if the government did not reverse the decision, it would face strong public protests. “If the government does not change its stance, I will stand with the affected citizens in their fight,” he declared.
