Hyderabad : The Jyotirao Phule Praja Bhavan has been officially designated as the residence of Telangana Deputy Chief Minister, Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. In an order issued on Wednesday, the state government formalized the allocation of Praja Bhavan to Deputy Chief Minister Vikramarka, who oversees the critical portfolios of finance & planning, and energy.
Formerly known as Pragathi Bhavan, this iconic residence was the official dwelling of former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao until recently. Vikramarka, accompanied by his family, is expected to move into the premises on Thursday.
A section of Praja Bhavan will continue to serve as Praja Vani twice a week, where ministers and officials address citizens’ concerns and grievances.
After taking the oath on December 7, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy announced the renaming of Pragathi Bhavan to Jyotirao Phule Praja Bhavan. Despite this change, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy continues to operate from his residence in Jubilee Hills.
Situated in Begumpet, Pragathi Bhavan played a pivotal role in the recent political transition when the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) relinquished power to the Congress. Inaugurated in 2016, the building was perceived differently by different parties – a symbol of autocratic rule by Chandrashekar Rao to the opposition, and a symbol of Telangana’s development and pride for the BRS.
The Congress government, after coming to power, dismantled the iron fencing around Pragathi Bhavan to allow unrestricted public access. The removal of the fencing, perceived as a hurdle in traffic flow, was undertaken using bulldozers and gas cutters.
An RTI query last year revealed that Rs.49.84 crore were spent on the construction of Pragathi Bhavan. The expansive nine-acre complex comprises five buildings – the residence, Chief Minister’s office, Janahitha (meeting hall), the old CM residence, and the camp office.
Originally constructed after demolishing 10 IAS Officers’ quarters and 24 peon quarters, Pragathi Bhavan has been a subject of both admiration and criticism, symbolizing different narratives within the political landscape of Telangana.
