KCR seeks Centre's support on TS infrastructure projects

The Chief Minister said the state government has suggested some modifications to the National Highway Authority of India regarding the alignment of 340-km Gajwel to Yadadri expressway. He asked the ministry to consider the suggestions.

KCR also demanded the release of funds allocated under the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund (CRIF). He said that the ministry of road transport and highway was allocating only around Rs. 250 crore per year to Telangana under CRIF though the state government had submitted proposals for an outlay of Rs. 744 crore. He requested the minister to increase the allocation of funds under CRIF to complete the approved road projects by 2022-23.

The Chief Minister also demanded the upgrade of four state highways - Choutuppal- Amangal-Shadnagar- Kandi (182 km), Karimnagar-Sircilla-Kamareddy-Yellareddy-Pitlam (165 km), Kothakota-Gudur up to Mantralayam (70 km), and Zaheerabad-Bidar-Deglur (25 km) – to national highways.

KCR also demanded the six-laning of NH65. The Hyderabad-Vijayawada section of NH65 was four-laned in 2012 and as per the agreement with the concessionaire, the six-laning of this high traffic corridor is to be completed by April 2024. Stating that as per the state PWD reports, the present traffic on this highway is more than 40,000 passenger car units, KCR alleged that the concessionaire has raised a dispute and is showing no inclination to take up the six-laning work. He requested the minister to look into the matter and help take up the six-laning work.

He also requested the development of the existing two-lane highway from Hyderabad (ORR) to Kalwakurthy (NH765) to be upgraded to four-lane standards.