NH-340C Land Acquisition Starts In Kurnool

KURNOOL: The district administration is moving ahead with the expansion of National Highway 340C from Kurnool to Guntur, with land acquisition currently underway within Kurnool city limits. A 2.3 km stretch of the highway passes through the city, and officials have set a deadline of May 16 for landowners to submit their documents to facilitate early completion of this portion.

In a meeting held four months ago, local people appealed to the government to reduce the proposed width of the road from 120 feet to 100 feet to protect valuable residential and commercial properties. Acting on these concerns, the district administration secured government approval to reduce the width to 100 feet. As part of the acquisition process, land and building owners have been asked to submit relevant ownership documents to the Kurnool Municipal Corporation.

Joint Collector Dr B. Navya stated that compensation for vacant land will be provided through Transferable Development Rights (TDR) bonds, while buildings will be compensated in cash based on plinth area valuations by the Roads & Buildings department. She emphasised that submitted documents will be verified and cleared promptly.

Municipal Commissioner S. Ravindra Babu said that the government's decision to reduce the road width benefits landowners, and he urged all pending landowners to submit their documents without delay. So far, around 90 property owners have complied.

The NH-340C project covers a total of 66.115 km, beginning from Kurnool and passing through Gargeyapuram, Brahmanakotkur, and Nandikotkur, before joining the Atmakur-Dornala stretch. The route spans Kurnool, Nandyal, and Prakasam districts, and the project is being executed by the Andhra Pradesh Roads & Buildings department.

However, concerns have emerged about the quality of construction work along parts of the highway, especially within the Kurnool district. Despite the ?1,179 crore budget, reports suggest that sections of the newly built four-lane road have suffered erosion due to the use of substandard materials. Soil from embankments has washed away following recent rains, particularly on the stretch from Nannur to Nandikotkur. The drainage canals constructed from Nannur Toll Plaza to Jupadu Bungalow have also been damaged, and cement structures show signs of wear.

A senior official from the R&B Department's National Highways wing acknowledged the lapses and confirmed that an internal inquiry is underway to assess the quality issues and take corrective measures.