4-lane roads to be developed in Rayalaseema
A damaged road in Vizianagaram district (file picture)
- The state govt has decided to improve road connectivity in four districts at a cost of Rs 7,392 cr
- NHAI responds positively to CM’s proposal on development of four main roads in the region
Amaravati : The state government has decided to develop four-lane roads for improving road connectivity in the Rayalaseema region. The four main roads (528 km) connecting the four districts of Anantapur, Chittoor, Kurnool, and Kadapa districts in Rayalaseema will be developed at a total cost of Rs 7,392 crore. To this end, consultants have been appointed to prepare Detailed Project Reports (DPRs), according to a press release here on Monday.
The plan is to start the tender process and complete the development works next year. The National Highways Development Authority (NHAI) has responded positively to Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy's proposal for this purpose.
Roads and buildings chief secretary M T Krishna Babu said that the state government was extending its cooperation in the construction of these national highways.
Accordingly, construction of a 154 km four-lane road from Anantapur to Maidukuru at a cost Rs 2,156 crore has been approved by the NHAI. A 94 km four-lane road from Madanapalle to Tirupati in Chittoor district at a cost of Rs. 1,316 crore was also approved.
A 131 km four-lane road from Kurnool to Dornala will be constructed. For this, proposals worth Rs 1,834 crore were approved.
From Mydukuru via Badvelu to Nellore, a four-lane road measuring 149 km connecting them to the Chennai-Kolkata National Highway will be developed. The NHAI has approved proposals worth Rs 2,086 crore for this purpose.
The state government is also gearing up for road repairs in the state and the Bank of Baroda has agreed to lend Rs 2,000 crore to the state government for this purpose. The state Roads Development Corporation (RDC) started the tender process a few months ago for the repair of roads of around 9,000 km in the state.
The government has decided to undertake these repair tasks with the help of a loan from a bank and the RDC has consulted with various banks for this purpose. The state government has approved the repayment of these loans through the funds raised by levying road cess.
Contractors have already filed bids for 33 per cent of the work. They are currently interested in filing tenders for the remaining 67 per cent of the work, with a bank loan being granted.
With this, the entire tender process will be finalised soon. RDC managing director Srinivasulu Reddy said that the whole tender process for the road repairs will be completed by the month of April next year.
