It was more than an official visit. For Irrigation and Civil Supplies Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Wednesday’s trip to Tatipamula in Tirmulagiri mandal of Suryapet district was a return to his roots — and for the village, an emotional homecoming of its son.

Villagers lined the roads and gathered in large numbers as Mr. Uttam arrived at his ancestral village and made announcements regarding new schools, infrastructure and housing even as he recollected his childhood memories.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Uttam recalled his father Nallamala Purushotham Reddy, who died about a decade ago, and spoke emotionally about his late father’s wish to visit Tatipamula once more before his death.

Though that wish could not be fulfilled, Mr. Uttam said the memory had remained with him and strengthened his resolve to do something enduring for the village associated with his family for generations.

Recalling his own childhood in Tatipamula, the Minister said meeting old friends and familiar faces brought him immense happiness and satisfaction.

Education dominated the homecoming

Mr. Uttam said his family had earlier donated the land and building for the village primary school. A ₹2-crore new primary school building, funded through Telangana GENCO, would now come up in the village.

He directed the District Collector to ensure that the building was completed before the next academic year, with no compromise on construction quality.

A ₹5-crore Zilla Parishad High School building is also being taken up with CSR support. Mr. Uttam said the aim was to give children in Tatipamula educational infrastructure comparable to facilities available in Hyderabad.

The development push goes beyond schools. A ₹16-crore check dam-cum-bridge is among the major infrastructure works highlighted during the visit, while 80 Indiramma houses have also been sanctioned for the village.

Local representatives used the occasion to seek additional Indiramma houses, hostel facilities and a fire station for the wider Thungathurthi area.

Tatipamula does not fall in Uttam’s Huzurnagar constituency — it is part of Thungathurthi — but constituency boundaries appeared secondary on Wednesday.

For the village, the lasting image was of a son returning home with memories of the past — and projects meant for the next generation.