Bhadradri Kothagudem District

The Kinnerasani Wildlife Sanctuary, spread across 634 acres, is rich in flora and fauna. It is a major attraction for nature lovers and wildlife enthusiasts, home to diverse species of animals, birds, and plant life.

The redesigned Dummugudem lift irrigation scheme envisaging integration of Rajivsagar and Indirasagar projects at Rollapadu in Tekulapalli mandal.

Located near Gummadivally village in Aswaraopet, this project was constructed across Peddavagu, a minor tributary of the Godavari river, in 1987. The total registered ayacut is 16,000 acres, out of which only 4,500 acres is being irrigated now. The ayacut benefits 3 mandals: Aswaraopet, Kuknoor and Veleripadu.

Also known as Taliperu Reservoir, this is a medium irrigation project constructed across the Taliperu River, a tributary of the Godavari, located at Cherla Village and Mandal. This project utilizes about 5.0 TMC of water and creates 24,500 acres of ayacut in both Cherla and Dummugudem mandals.

This dam is being constructed on the Kinnerasani River near Yanmbail village, Paloncha mandal. The scheme is intended to irrigate an ayacut of 10,000 acres. There are no inter-state problems for this project.

KTPS at Paloncha is the biggest thermal power plant in Telangana State. Of the total power generation of 4,000 MW, 50 per cent of the demand is met from KTPS. The four-unit station of the KTPS, set up in 1964 with Japanese technology, produces 240 MW.

The Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL) is the major coal mining company operating in the district. The company has been a cornerstone of the region's economy, providing employment to thousands and supplying coal to power plants across the state.

• NMDC – Iron ore mining
• Navbharat Ferro Alloys
• ITC PSPD Paper Mill and paperboards at Sarapaka
• Heavy Water Plant at Aswapuram – Set up in 1980 due to its proximity to Singareni Collieries and availability of plenty of water in the Godavari.
• Sponge Iron Plant at Paloncha – The first in Southeast Asia, started in 1978 and commissioned in 1980, followed by a second unit in 1985. The installed capacity is 60 tonnes per annum. Engineers from this plant provided technological support to plants in Vietnam and Peru.

Coming up at Chikkudugunta near Manuguru, this plant will generate 270 MW once it is commissioned. The Genco officials are confident of successfully executing the thermal project, which hit a roadblock because of the requirement of environmental clearance after progressing up to the foundation stage.

National Highway 30 (NH 30) passes through the district, connecting it to major cities and towns across the region.

Kothagudem Railway Station is referred to as Bhadrachalam Road. This is one of the oldest railway stations in Telangana. The train route initially started here for transporting coal to different parts of the Nizam state. Later, passenger express trains to Hyderabad, Balharshah, Vijayawada, Warangal, etc., were introduced.

Passenger trains run from Kazipet to Manuguru and Vijayawada to Bhadrachalam Road. The Kakatiya Fast Passenger runs from Secunderabad to Manuguru via Warangal. The Secunderabad-Manuguru Express departs Secunderabad at 11:45 PM and reaches Bhadrachalam Road at 5:10 AM.

The Steering Committee of Greenfield Airports gave clearance to Kothagudem Greenfield Airport. The district administration has acquired 1,500 acres of land at Punuguduchelaka village in Kothagudem mandal for the airport.

In 1978, Osmania University shifted its Mining Department to the coal town, naming it as Kothagudem School of Mines. Later, it was brought under the administration of Kakatiya University in 1994, adding new courses — CSE, EEE, IT and ECE — with an intake of 227 students a year.

Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) has constituted a seven-member committee headed by former vice-chancellor of Ambedkar University VS Prasad to study the feasibility of upgrading the Kothagudem School of Mines into a full-fledged university.