Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is seriously scouting for land at Erragadda for a parade ground.

Meanwhile, arrangements are under way at the Secunderabad Parade Grounds for the first Republic Day celebrations of Telangana State on January 26.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will hoist the national flag at the Parade Grounds in Secunderabad unlike Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao who hoisted the national flag on Independence Day at the Golconda Fort last year.

The tableaux various government departments which were discarded at Golconda due to space shortage will be back on Republic Day at the Parade Grounds.

“The CM is quite serious about acquiring the land belonging to TB and Mental Hospital at Erragadda for Telangana Parade Grounds. But there are some hitches like encroachments that have to be cleared,” a senior official told Deccan Chronicle.

Mr Rao hinted to senior party leaders and officials about his idea to take over the hospital lands for the Parade Grounds to ensure state and national festivities in the heart of the city and without depending on defence authorities. The hospital will be shifted to Vikarabad or another other suitable place.

The Parade Grounds at Secunderabad is under the control of defence authorities and the land is given to the state government on Republic and Independence Days and other important occasions if sought by the government and also occasionally for political parties and others.

“There are some encroachments. Earlier, former Chief Minister YSR planned to construct a health university here but the plans were dropped subsequently,” another official disclosed.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Governor ESL Narasimham will hoist tri color flag in Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh State first on January 26 and return to hoist the flag at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad in Telangana State.

Though there was a talk that Governor too may hoist the flag on Republic Day at Golconda, but Raj Bhavan struck to its plan.