4,000 km of SHs to be developed in 5 years

Amaravati: The government has given numbers to 451 Highways in the State. Similar to the numbers given to the National Highways by National Highways Authority of India, the State government also allocated numbers to the State Highways.

Highlights:

• R & B Dept to reconstruct over 120 dilapidated bridges
• CM asks officials to speed up bridge works on Seeleru river
• Govt to help in land acquisition for development of NHs
• Narsannapeta-Ranastalam to be developed as 6-lane road

These numbers will appear as SH-01 (State Highway – 01), SH-02 and so on, explained the Roads and Buildings department officials to Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu during a review meeting on the progress of the works held at the Chief Minister’s residence at Undavalli.

The Chief Minister directed officials to prepare proposals for development and maintenance of around 4,000 kilometres of State Highways through private players. Private organisations have to develop and maintain the roads for five years, under the present proposal.

Chandrababu Naidu asked them to speed up works related to construction of a 300 metres bridge on Seeleru river between Chintoor and Motu in East Godavari district.
The bridge is being constructed at an estimated cost of more than Rs 23 crore. Naidu pointed out that the contractors can speed up works when power generation is stopped at Seeleru Reservoir. He directed them to complete the works by the end of this year.

The Roads and Buildings department has been given various crucial tasks in social infrastructure. They include, the R & B department should develop a well and all-weather road-network from villages to mandal headquarters, mandal headquarters to mandal headquarters and from mandal headquarters to district headquarters.

It should take the responsibility of expanding and developing nearly 4,000 kilometers of highways across the State within the coming five years. The R & B department has to reconstruct more than 120 dilapidated bridges in the State.

It has to prepare plans according to the future traffic on the roads and safety of the passengers. By 2021-22, it has to develop more than 1,810 km of main roads into BT roads at an estimated cost of Rs 1,580 crore. Out of this target, the R & B has to develop around 570 km of roads at an estimated amount of Rs 500 crore within this financial year.

The officials explained that the State government has to spent more than Rs 2,103 crore out of the total allocated amount of Rs 2,728 crore for the development of rural roads in the State.

The Chief Minister suggested to officials to utilise drones and CCTV cameras to maintain transparency and ensure quality in construction of roads.

The new roads proposed for development under National Highways Project: During the meeting, Chandrababu Naidu directed the officials to ensure that new roads are developed by the National Highways Authority of India, in the State. He said that government will solve problems in land acquisition for these projects.

The newly proposed roads include, Narsannapeta-Ranastalam to be developed as 6-lane road, Anandapuram-Pendurthi-Anakapalli as 6-lane road, Gundgolanu-Kovvur as 4-lane, Anantapuram-Giddalur-Guntur as 2-lane, Chittoor-Mallavaram as 6-lane, Renigunta-Naidupet as 6-lane, Mydukur-Badvel-Nellore as 4-lane and Krishnapatnam Port highway works.

Meanwhile, the officials informed the Chief Minister that the Kanakadurga flyover works in Vijayawada have been completed by about 65 per cent. At this juncture, he directed the officials to complete the project by January end of the next year, at any cost. Chandrababu Naidu asked the contractor to speed up works. He said the works can be executed during the nights by diverting traffic.

Chief Minister suggested to complete land acquisition procedure for the proposed Amaravati-Anantapur Express Highway, as early as possible.