Telangana 2047 Vision: Why Dividing Districts into CURE–PURE–RARE Could Be a Misstep

[Undilaemanchikalam]

Telangana 2047 Vision: Why Dividing Districts into CURE–PURE–RARE Could Be a Misstep

Telangana, a young state with immense potential, is now looking ahead to 2047 with ambitious economic and development goals. However, a recent proposal to divide the state into three economic zones—CURE (Core Urban Region Economy), PURE (Peri-Urban Region Economy), and RARE (Rural Agriculture Region Economy)—has raised serious concerns. According to this plan, Hyderabad would serve as the only major “urban core,” while most other districts would fall under the “rural/agriculture” category.

 

While categorization may seem like a strategic way to organize development, a closer look at Telangana’s districts shows that this approach could severely hinder balanced regional growth.

Regional Imbalance

Hyderabad already accounts for nearly half of Telangana’s economic output. Labeling all other districts as “rural zones” risks concentrating investments, industries, and job opportunities exclusively in the capital region. Such a move would exacerbate regional inequalities, fuel youth migration from smaller towns and districts, and leave the majority of the state dependent on a single city for economic opportunities. Telangana was created with the promise of equitable development for all regions, but this model contradicts that very principle.

Undermining District Potential

Every district in Telangana has unique economic strengths:

 

• Warangal – Textile, IT, and defence industries
• Khammam – Agriculture, irrigation, and industrial potential
• Nizamabad – Agro-processing and tourism
• Suryapet/Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri – Logistics and manufacturing hubs
• Siddipet/Karimnagar – Emerging multi-sector growth nodes

 

Branding these diverse districts purely as “agricultural regions” ignores their industrial, technological, and commercial potential. A one-size-fits-all classification reduces districts to secondary status and limits their growth trajectory.

Lessons from Global Development Models

Countries like Japan, South Korea, and Germany demonstrate that distributed, multi-node urban growth produces long-term prosperity. Instead of over-centralizing development in one city, these nations create multiple urban hubs with industry, education, and infrastructure spread across regions. Telangana must adopt a similar model by:

• Developing secondary metropolitan hubs
• Creating district-level industrial corridors
• Encouraging cluster-based economic development
• Promoting value-addition industries in agriculture, not just crop production

The Risk of a Rural-Urban Divide

If the CURE–PURE–RARE model is implemented as proposed, Telangana risks:

• Concentrating economic opportunities solely in Hyderabad
• Neglecting district-level infrastructure and budget allocations
• Increasing migration and social dissatisfaction
• Deepening urban-rural divides

Such an approach is short-sighted and contrary to the vision of a strong, inclusive Telangana.

A Vision for 2047

Telangana’s true 2047 vision should empower every district to become a growth engine:

• Multi-city development strategy
• District-level industrial, IT, and MSME clusters
• Education, employment, and infrastructure decentralization
• Agro-based value addition without limiting districts to “rural” branding
• A successful Telangana must leverage the potential of all its districts, not just Hyderabad.

The CURE–PURE–RARE framework may appear structured on paper, but it risks undermining the state’s long-term development goals. Telangana’s future lies in distributed, inclusive growth that recognizes and nurtures the potential of every district. Hyderabad should be a leading hub—not the only hub.

 

The 2047 vision must be holistic, inclusive, and district-centric—anything less is a disservice to Telangana’s promise and its people.

[Teluguredu]

 these labels are useless unless they are from centre since they might allocate funds based on that,even then very less chance.