The Telangana government has issued a directive that all the departments and associated offices should cease operations at private buildings and migrate to government-owned facilities without delay. The deadline for choosing appropriate government office space and moving in is December 31.

In a circular issued on Saturday, the government made it clear that no rental payments will be made for offices operating from private buildings from February 1 next year. The directive applies to all departments, corporations, societies, universities, and affiliated bodies, including those paying rent from grants-in-aid, their own funds, or centrally sponsored schemes.

The decision was taken after officials observed that several government-owned buildings across the State have substantial vacant space. The government aims to ensure that all official work is carried out exclusively from State-owned premises to avoid unnecessary expenditure on rent.

The circular places direct responsibility on administrative heads to ensure compliance. “No rental shall be paid for government offices housed in private buildings. Any deviation will make the administrative head personally responsible,” the order stated, stressing that the matter should be treated as a priority.

Senior officials noted that the move comes ahead of the submission of budget estimates for the next financial year, indicating the government’s focus on cutting avoidable expenses. Authorities estimate that the State spends significant amounts annually on renting private buildings, and shifting offices could result in substantial savings to the exchequer.

Officials pointed out that considerable office space became available after Andhra Pradesh gradually vacated its offices in Hyderabad following bifurcation. Several buildings, including Parishram Bhavan, Gagan Vihar Complex, BRK Bhavan, and Errum Manzil, currently have large unused areas that can accommodate government offices.

“A major portion of this space has remained vacant and locked since the A.P. government shifted its offices to Amaravati,” a senior official said. Nevertheless, there are still some properties that are in the midst of legal disputes and not available for use, as the courts are still considering the cases that involve private lessees.

Moreover, the government has given a directive to the various departments to fast-track the whole process of locating and making the available space ready for use in accordance with the prescribed time limit.