Torrential rains, floods cause Rs 1,000 Cr loss to road infra in Telangana

Hyderabad: Torrential rains and floods in Telangana have caused extensive damage to the state’s road network, with estimated losses pegged at nearly Rs 1,000 crore.

Roads and Buildings (R&B) Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy reviewed the situation and directed officials to prepare a comprehensive damage report.

Highways, culverts, bridges hit

Officials of the R&B Department told the Minister that several culverts, minor bridges, and large stretches of highways were either washed away or badly damaged in the recent deluge.

Venkat Reddy asked engineers to assess the structural life of each asset and submit proposals for urgent reconstruction.

Durable roads under the HAM model

Promising quality infrastructure, the Minister announced that the government would build durable roads under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM). “Tenders will be floated soon, and work will begin after the monsoon recedes,” he assured.

Pending NH projects reviewed

The Minister also reviewed pending National Highway projects and instructed officials to expedite approvals with the Centre. He said he had recently held talks with Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari, who responded positively to Telangana’s requests.

Khanapur MLA Vedma Bojju sought improvements to the Khanapur–Bellampalli and Utnoor–Gudiatnoor stretches, to which Venkat Reddy promised a favourable response.

Counterattack on KTR

Turning to politics, Venkat Reddy launched a scathing attack on BRS Working President KT Rama Rao (KTR) for calling Congress a “dirty party.” He said the remark was arrogant and an insult to the party that fought for India’s freedom and delivered Telangana statehood.

“Is the party that gave Telangana a third-grade party in your eyes? Ask your father, KCR, who once stood with Sonia Gandhi, the very leader who made Telangana a reality,” he said.

Defence of Congress and Gandhi Family

The Minister pointed out that Congress’ Vice-Presidential nominee had earned national applause and reminded that jurist Justice Sudarshan Reddy, hailing from Telangana, had supported statehood even from the Supreme Court bench.

He accused KTR of arrogance and corruption, remarking that those who looted thousands of crores were now trying to lecture Congress. “Rajiv Gandhi was hailed as one of the best Prime Ministers, and Rahul Gandhi’s Bharat Jodo Yatra was for unity, not politics,” he said.

Fertiliser crisis blamed on Centre

Responding to criticism over the fertiliser shortage, Venkat Reddy said it was the Centre’s failure to release urea that had hurt Telangana farmers. “Instead of questioning Delhi, you are indulging in baseless remarks,” he told KTR.