VIJAYAWADA: The Andhra Pradesh government has stepped up efforts to improve road connectivity to major temples and pilgrimage centres in rural areas, with more than 100 important religious destinations being linked through 205 km of roads at a cost of Rs 120 crore.
The initiative is aimed at making pilgrimages more convenient and improving access to temples that have long faced inadequate road connectivity.
The programme is being taken up under the leadership of Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan after several issues concerning poor access roads to temples were brought to his notice during field visits and through representations from devotees.
He has directed officials to accord priority to roads connecting important temples and ensure that devotees do not face difficulties while reaching the shrines.
The works are being executed through the Panchayat Raj Department using funds from the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, VB-G RAM-G, SASCI and other sources.
The focus is not limited to temples, with roads connecting schools, hospitals and agricultural fields also being taken up under various funding programmes.
Of the roads being constructed under the temple connectivity programme, 26 have already been completed and are ready for inauguration, while works on another 40 per cent of the roads have reached around 50 per cent completion.
The completed projects include connectivity roads to the Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple at Antarvedi, Ahobilam, Sri Gattu Venkataramana Swamy temple in Madanapalle constituency, Devaraya Nallagangamma temple, Pudyagiri Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy shrine near Marripudi, Singirikona in Satyavedu constituency, Someswaram, Talupulamma Lova and the IS Jagannathapuram ghat road.
Officials are making arrangements for the inauguration of the completed roads and their opening to the public.
Several other projects are progressing at different stages, including the Konaseema Tirumala Vadapalli Karakatta road taken up with SASCI funds, the road to Sri Anjaneya Swamy temple at Arthagiri at a cost of Rs 3 crore, and road works in Tenali and Rayachoti constituencies.
Roads to the Anjaneya Swamy temple in Nidadavole and the Malleswara Swamy temple at Thotavaripalli in Puthalapattu constituency are also under progress ata brisk pace.
Around 72 km of roads sanctioned for Sri Sathya Sai district are being constructed at various stages. In connection with the Sri Sathya Sai Baba Centenary celebrations, Rs 30 crore has been allocated for road connectivity works to Puttaparthi.
Pawan Kalyan has instructed officials to give special attention to quality standards in roads leading to pilgrimage centres.
He stressed that the roads constructed by the Panchayat Raj Department should be durable and provide long-term connectivity to devotees.
The Deputy Chief Minister has also directed officials to personally inspect the quality of completed roads during field visits before making them accessible to the public.
Further plans are being formulated to extend road connectivity to more temples across Andhra Pradesh, with the objective of creating better and safer access for devotees to important spiritual destinations.