Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao held a review meeting with GHMC officials this morning at his Camp Office and instructed them to undertake road network repairs in the city on a war-footing by starting the work within ten days and complete them within a month.
Roads & Buildings Minister Tummala Nageswar Rao, Principal Secretary to CM S. Narsing Rao, GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar, Chief Engineer and Superintendent Engineers of GHMC attended the review meeting. Addressing the meeting, the Chief Minister said roads in many areas in the city were damaged due to rains and needed immediate repairs. He said a list of all such damaged roads must be prepared immediately so that tenders could be called for online within a short time and entrust work thereafter. Even at places where Metro Rail works are going on, the GHMC officials should speak with the concerned and make arrangements to undertake repairs without disturbing the ongoing Metro Rail works.
The Chief Minister also told the Chief Engineer of National Highways as three sides of the city National Highway Network passes through the city, they too should undertake repair works simultaneously. Similarly roads that were handed over by R&B to GHMC, repairs have to be undertaken, he ordered. The repair work has to be undertaken simultaneously in the entire GHMC Zones, he added.
“While undertaking repairs, GHMC has to work out details of number of roads for total renewal and for strengthening. Even attention has to be given to small patches here and there. The repair work should be in tune with modern technology so that they would survive for a longer period,” the Chief Minister said. The CM also discussed with GHMC officials about the length of roads that could be made with concrete. It has been decided by the CM that as part of special road drive in city, renewals of 1000 lane kilometer to be made with Black Top Roads and 400 Lane Kilometers to be made with white top roads the total cost of which would be Rs 500 crores.
Reviewing the issue of illegal constructions, the Chief Minister said despite BRS and LRS, the illegal activity was going on. He instructed the GHMC officials to check and prepare a strategy as to how illegal constructions could be stopped. For this, the CM suggested opening of a special flying squad wing directly under the control and supervision of GHMC Commissioner and perfect strategy to be prepared for it’s functioning. The CM also agreed, in principle, for going for a nominal imposition of Property Tax not exceeding Rs 101 for some five lakh houses whose owners are currently paying a tax of Rs 1,200 and below. The GHMC officials were asked to work out details pertaining to them for a final decision. (NSS)