Jagan wants road works to be taken on war-footing

Amaravati: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy has directed the officials to expedite the construction of roads, bridges, RoBs, and flyovers across the state on a priority basis without any delays.

Reviewing the construction and maintenance of road works carried out under the departments of roads and buildings, panchayat raj and rural development, NIDA, tribal welfare, municipal administration and urban development here on Tuesday, the Chief Minister instructed the authorities to focus on completing road works on a war-footing and make them available for public use at the earliest. He emphasised making pothole-free roads across the state besides completing the pending road works. In regard to repair works in Corporations and Municipalities, he said all the potholes must be repaired by 15 July.

Further, the Chief Minister said the construction of new bridges in Nivar-affected areas should be taken up on a priority basis. He told the officials to start construction works and instructed them to prepare an action plan for the maintenance of panchayat roads besides constructing new ones. He also asked officials to focus on the construction and repair of roads under the tribal welfare department.

Taking a dig at the Opposition, the Chief Minister said various conspiracies are being hatched to prevent development work in the state. He alleged that the Opposition parties are working to stop financial aid from the Centre and drag the government into legal tangles. Despite all odds, the state government is moving forward and completing all development works on a priority basis and without incurring any payment dues to benefit the public, said the Chief Minister.

The officials said the state government had spent Rs. 2,205 crores to carry out 1,168 repairs and special works under R&B department. Of this, 675 works have been completed and 491 are in progress. Under NIDA-1, a total of 233 works is being carried out at an expenditure of Rs. 2,479.61 crores and the panchayat raj department is constructing 1,843 roads at a cost of Rs. 1,072.92 crores. Besides these, the government is also taking up repairs of 4,635 km roads.