VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to install CCTV cameras every 50 km along all roads to monitor vehicular movement.
Chairing a review meeting with officials of the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department at the State Secretariat on Thursday, the Chief Minister instructed them to construct 2,000 kilometers of new state and district roads with an estimated budget of Rs 1,000 crore.
He said that cost estimations and the tender process must begin immediately. An additional Rs 500 crore will be allocated for repairing damaged roads across the state, and the Chief Minister emphasised that these repairs must continue even during the monsoon and be completed at the earliest.
Seeking updates on the condition of roads across the state, the Chief Minister pointed out that the previous government had grossly neglected road construction and maintenance over the past five years, leading to widespread deterioration.
The Chief Minister directed officials to submit a comprehensive report within 15 days, outlining the roads that require repairs, the new roads that need to be laid, and those that require regular maintenance. He noted that traditional methods of road construction are not only financially burdensome but also compromise quality.
Therefore, he recommended adopting the most modern and advanced techniques for road laying. Officials informed the Chief Minister that repairs had already been completed for around 20,000 km of roads in the state, ensuring they are now pothole-free.
“Our state roads must be on par with national highways. Every road must be built as per specified quality standards. As soon as the monsoon ends, road construction must begin by November. Details such as which contractor built a road and who is maintaining it must be made available online. The maintenance of all roads in the state must be handed over to contractors, and preventive measures must be taken to ensure roads are not damaged during the rainy season,” the Chief Minister stated.
Officials also informed the Chief Minister that Andhra Pradesh has 12,653 km of state highways. Roads over 20 km in length are suitable for development under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. There are 260 such roads, adding up to 10,200 km, that qualify for development under this model. Of these, 18 roads spanning 1,332 km with high traffic density have been proposed under Phase 1A.