Hyderabad, June 16: The cash-strapped state government is unlikely to give priority to the road sector this year. Instead, it wants to convert over 2,539 kms of state highways into national highways.
This would save the state government about Rs 400 crore per annum. Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy wrote a letter to the ministry of surface transport asking it to consider the proposal favourably. The chief minister proposes to take up the issue with the Centre during his visit to New Delhi on Thursday.
The state highways which have been proposed to be taken up as national highways are Guntur-Vinukonda-Thokapalli-Nandyal-Banaganapalli-Tadipatri- Dharmavaram-Kodur, Adilabad-Utnoor-Korutla-Vemulvada-Siddipet-Janagaon, Suryapet-Miryalaguda-Piduguralla-Narsaraopet-Vodarevu, Sironcha-Parkal Nakrekal-Nalgonda to Renigunta and Kakinada-Dwarapudi-Rajahmundry-Kovvur, to Suryapeta via Jangareddygudem.
It is learnt that the government wants the Centre to take the example of Tamil Nadu where all the state highways have been converted into national highways. Apart from helping the state reduce the financial burden, this would also have a great impact in keeping naxal activities under check. Most of the state highways which the state wants to hand over to the Centre are considered naxal-affected areas.
According to minister for roads and buildings G Aruna Kumari, the chief minister reviewed the functioning of the department and expressed his displeasure over poor quality of works in laying of roads and asked them to ensure that strict quality control was maintained. He told them to give top priority to maintenance of roads and complete the ongoing works in a time-bound manner and without compromising on quality.
—Agencies–