12K Cr spent on roads: Sidda

​Vijayawada: Minister for Transport Sidda Raghava Rao said that about Rs 12,000 crore were spent by the State government to improve road connectivity across the State. The Transport Minister who was in the city on Friday flagged off the 27th Road Safety Awareness Week celebrations at District Transport Office. In this regard, the district transport officials organised a meet to highlight the importance of road safety to the public.

Speaking on the occasion, Raghava Rao underlined the need for improving road connectivity across the State as it would automatically attract the companies to invest. He said that road-users should join hands with the police in enforcing road rules, and desist from using mobile phones while driving. Listing out the developmental activities to be implemented as part of the road safety, the Transport Minister said a special fund of Rs 10 crore was set up by the government.

He also said dynamic driving school at an estimated cost of Rs 25 crore would be inaugurated at Darsi in Prakasam district shortly, he said. Raghava Rao also urged the two-wheeler drivers to make it a habit of using helmet to avoid fatal head injuries. On a truck terminal at Ibrahimpatnam, he said the government had already sent proposals and was ready to provide land for the facility. Later, the Minister released stickers, pamphlets and caller tunes aimed at creating road safety awareness among people.

A road safety awareness exhibition and medical camp were inaugurated by the Minister at the DTC office. An awareness rally was also taken out on Mahatma Gandhi Road in which students took part. Minister for Water Resource Management Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, MLC Buddha Venkanna, MLA Gadde Ramamohana Rao, DTC V Sunder, City Mayor Koneru Sridhar, Special Chief Secretary B Syam Babu, Transport Commissioner S Bala Subramanyam and other officials also took part in the programme.