VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has launched an initiative to make all roads in the state pothole-free, allocating Rs 860 crore for the project.
Formally commencing the road repair work at Vennelapalem village in the Pendurthi Assembly constituency of Anakapalli district on Saturday, Naidu instructed officials to ensure that all roads in the state are free of potholes by Sankranti. He entrusted the responsibility to Roads and Buildings Minister B.C. Janardhan Reddy and the Department Secretary, warning, “I will inspect all the roads through drones and will take action against contractors who do not complete the work by Sankranti.”
Naidu criticized the previous administration, accusing it of neglecting road repairs and ridiculing former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy for investing Rs 450 crore in building a palace at Rushikonda instead of prioritizing roads. He explained that the government has a detailed five-year plan for road development, with national highway projects totaling Rs 76,000 crore already underway, expected to be completed in two-and-a-half years. He also announced upcoming projects like the Bhogapuram-Mulapet road, Amaravati Outer Ring Road, and Vijayawada East Bypass Road, with a budget of Rs 50,000 crore.
Highlighting the government’s emphasis on railway infrastructure, Naidu announced a four-lane railway line between Kolkata and Chennai, which will reduce travel and transport time. “Once the four-lane railway line is complete, travel from Visakhapatnam to Amaravati will only take two hours,” he said. He also mentioned the Centre’s recent sanctioning of a rail line for the capital with a Rs 2,500 crore budget and promised that the foundation for the Visakhapatnam railway zone would soon be laid, with 52 acres allocated at Mudasarlova.
The Chief Minister reiterated his commitment to completing the Polavaram Irrigation Project within two years and bringing water to the erstwhile Visakhapatnam district through the Polavaram left main canal. Addressing the concerns of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, he stated that the government is consulting with the Centre to make VSP profitable and appealed to employees to work toward this goal. He also warned against unauthorized liquor outlets, promising strict action as part of the government’s liquor policy. Naidu, in a symbolic gesture, personally filled a pothole with mortar to mark the start of the project, with Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha and other officials in attendance.
