Chandrababu Naidu had submitted a list of 15 state roads to transport minister Mr Nitin Gadkari
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu
Hyderabad: The perseverance of AP Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu to get funds from the Central government followed by his multiple visits to New Delhi and series of meetings with Union ministers has started to bear fruit for the residuary state.
The Union transport ministry has in principle agreed to upgrade two state roads into national highways costing nearly Rs 2,000 crore. The upgradation of these two state roads into national highways is crucial as they connect the backward areas of Rayalaseema with eastern parts of the state and the capital region. The 283-km Kurnool-Nandikotkuru-Atmakur-Dornala-Thokapalli-Narasaraopet-Guntur stretch, and the 301-km Koduru-Tadipatri-Bhogasamudram-Kolimigundla-Owk-Giddalur-Thokapalli stretch are the two crucial roads that would be widened into four-lane NHs with Central funds.
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had submitted a list of 15 state roads urging the Union transport minister Mr Nitin Gadkari that these roads be converted into national highways. This in-principle approval has come as a major relief to the state government particularly the cash-starved roads and buildings department.
The government is not allotting sufficient funds to the Roads and Building department to maintain the roads that are under its jurisdiction. “In the last five years, several rural roads were transferred to R&B but the budget has not been increased in proportion to the additional roads given to it. Now, with the Centre agreeing to fund two roads conversion into NHs, nearly Rs 2,000 crore financial burden is off the shoulders of R&B,” said a senior official in the transport department said. It may be mentioned that the government, under pressure from ministers and MLAs, had earlier transferred local roads from the jurisdiction of panchayats and municipalities to the Roads and Building department. Neither the panchayats nor the municipal bodies have the finances for maintenance of these roads.
( Source : dc )
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