Telangana chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao on Friday marked the state's ninth formation day by taking the salute from police contingents at a programme held at the newly built state secretariat.

Rao said Telangana's development and growth propellers would serve as a benchmark for the rest of the country. The chief minister unfurled the Tricolour at the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Secretariat complex after paying floral tributes to the Telangana martyrs at Gun Park.

“I had assured the people of the state at the Telangana Avirbhava Sabha on June 2, 2014, that I would rebuild Telangana in such a way that the nation would be able to learn a great deal from it. It has become a reality within a span of nine years. Telangana has emerged as an inspiring example by projecting a development model of its own for the country to emulate,” Rao said.

He said the progress had actually been achieved in six years as the pandemic had scuttled development efforts for three years.

The chief minister said the "Telangana model" had emerged as the most sought-after development model.

Acknowledging the contributions made by people in every walk of life, including government employees, elected representatives and bureaucrats, Rao said the state should shape itself into a perennial source of inspiration for future generations.