telangana is at it again, with yet another grand spectacle of demands and expectations as it pins its hopes on the upcoming Union Budget for 2025-26. The State’s Congress-led government has put forward a proposal that looks nothing short of a desperate plea for the financial lifeline it seems to believe it’s entitled to. With a total of Rs 1.63 lakh crore sought for a variety of infrastructure projects, it appears the state is taking a rather optimistic approach to the art of negotiation. And let’s not forget the plethora of unresolved financial matters that are, somehow, still hanging in the air since the state’s bifurcation in 2014.

The latest highlight? Telangana’s government has, with remarkable confidence, set its sights on a Regional Ring Road project that could cost a cool ₹34,367 crore. The proposed road, which the state insists will be an industrial marvel, is expected to revolutionize logistical hubs and, naturally, the pharmaceutical sector. While land acquisition has begun, the usual hurdles—clearances, permissions, and that pesky thing called reality—are being "carefully awaited." After all, why wouldn’t the Centre prioritize this state-of-the-art ring road over, say, national projects that have been pending for years?

Next up, the Hyderabad Metro Rail’s Phase-2 expansion, priced at a reasonable Rs 24,269 crore. Apparently, the state believes that this extension of 76.4 km is an absolute priority and proposes that the Centre chip in for joint funding. Because, naturally, a metro system in a city already facing a massive traffic mess is just the kind of investment that deserves an endless budget commitment.

Then there’s the Musi Riverfront Rejuvenation—the long-overdue project that the state claims will turn the river into a “symbol of pride.” With the ambitious gandhi Sarovar, sewage upgrades, and heritage bridge proposals, the state's request for Rs 14,100 crore could easily be viewed as a perfect blend of innovation and nostalgia. Meanwhile, 220 acres of defence land near the river is supposedly up for grabs, although one wonders how smoothly that acquisition process will unfold in the data-face of national security concerns. But, hey, it's for "development," right?

As if these were not enough to justify the Centre’s financial generosity, telangana has also reminded the Union government of the pending Rs 1,800 crore in grants. Apparently, a state that has long been a poster child for fiscal discipline, innovation, and growth should not have to wait too long to receive its due. If that's not ambitious enough, there's the little matter of loans amounting to Rs 2,547.07 crore that telangana insists the Centre should take off its hands, thanks to the fallouts from bifurcation. And of course, a friendly reminder to andhra pradesh that it owes the state Rs 495.20 crore from those delightful Central Sponsored Schemes from 2014-15.

But the pièce de résistance is the AP Reorganisation Act, the source of the state’s unyielding thirst for “fair treatment.” telangana continues to emphadata-size that the Centre should “fulfill its commitments,” which, among other things, include the establishment of a coach factory in Kazipet and a steel plant at Bayyaram. And why stop there? How about some improved railway connectivity and a brand-new airport to add to the state’s glittering repertoire of ambitious projects?

In short, Telangana’s requests for the Union Budget are nothing if not bold. The underlying message? Why should the Centre hesitate to shower telangana with financial support? After all, the state has already shown its resilience and progress, so surely a few more promises and some big-ticket proposals are all it needs to stay afloat—if not dominate—India’s development narrative.

It's almost as if the state has mastered the art of asking for the moon and hoping that the Centre’s generosity will make it possible. Stay tuned for what could well be the most dramatic chapter in India’s financial planning—courtesy of Telangana's masterful approach to fiscal diplomacy!