Hyderabad: The Centre has promised to develop 2,600 km of National Highways as early as possible after TS acquires land for these roads in the state.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao met Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari in New Delhi and discussed the pending NHs, conversion into four-lane roads and development of other roads including one from Paradise to Bowenpally in Cantonment area and waterways on Godavari, among others.
“After formation of Telangana, several National Highways were announced by the Centre. We sought their in principle approval. The Union minister promised to issue orders in a day or two. We also sought sanction of NH for which DPR were submitted,” TS minister Tummala Nageswara Rao told the media in Delhi on Monday.
The state sought permission for land acquisition for expansion of 650 km of roads under National Highways Authority of India.
Development of waterways on Godavari River, expansion of Yadadri-Warangal four-lane road, Amaravati, Kothagudem, Jagdalpur highway works, a second bridge over Godavari at Bhadrachalam and four-lane roads in new and old district headquarters were also taken up with Gadkari.
TRS MP B. Vinod Kumar said land acquisition has become a tough task not only in TS but across the country.
“Several states are facing this problem which has delayed National Highways projects. States have to acquire the land for National Highways. The CM promised to personally look into the matter and speed up land acquisition,” he disclosed.
Earlier, another delegation, led by municipal minister K.T. Rama Rao, met Union home minister Rajnath Singh and discussed pending issues in AP Reorganisation Act. Mr Rama Rao sought Rs 1,290 crore for infrastructure and roads in four Naxal-affected districts. The union minister promised to take up the issue in the next Cabinet meet.
