HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy has directed the officials concerned to complete the land acquisition process for northern portion of the proposed Regional Ring Road (RRR) at the earliest.
Chairing a review meeting here on Friday, the chief minister also instructed the officials concerned to construct 12,000 km R&B roads and 17,700 km Panchayat Raj roads under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM).
While asking the officials to complete the construction of HAM roads within the next three years, Revanth announced allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the construction of roads in rural areas.
During the meeting, the chief minister directed the officials to be liberal in fixing compensation to the farmers. The District Collectors, who will act as arbitrators, should ensure that the farmers get higher compensation, he said.
The CM directed the officials to frequently interact with the farmers and explain to them the need for laying new roads. He also wanted the officials to take up construction of 11 radial roads, which will be connected to Hyderabad. These radial roads would be helpful for the industrial growth, he added.
The chief minister also made several suggestions to officials on construction of Nagapur-Vijayawada highway (NH-163G), which connects Mancherial, Peddapalli, Jayashankar-Bhupalpally, Warangal, Hanamkonda, Mahabubabad and Khammam, on Armoor-Jagtial-Mancherial (NH 63) and Jagtial-Karimnagar (NH-563) highways as well as the proposed roads in Left Wing Extremism-affected areas.
Why is Forest dept raising objections, asks Revanth
The CM, meanwhile, asked Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) RM Dobriyal as to why the Forest department was raising objections for the construction of roads, which are essential for the people.
Dobriyal explained that there were some problems in the past as the officials concerned did not follow certain guidelines properly. The CM directed the officials to appoint one special officer each from the Roads & Buildings and Forest departments for better coordination.
He also directed Chief Secretary Santhi Kumari to conduct a review with special officers once in 10 days and resolve the matters quickly.
“If the issues are not resolved within the state, then the ministers should go to Delhi and discuss the matters with the Union government,” he suggested.
Speaking about the construction of 12,000 km of R&B roads and 17,700 km of Panchayat Raj roads under the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM), the chief minister said that the erstwhile districts should be taken as a unit for construction of these roads and directed the officials not to compromise on quality of works.
‘Hire consultants, prepare DPRs for HAM roads’
The CM, meanwhile, directed the officials to appoint consultancies and prepare detailed project reports (DPRs) for the HAM roads. He also instructed the officials to take up the repairs of roads and bridges, which were damaged during floods. The state government would release the funds and the officials should pursue with the Centre for release of matching grants, he said.
While announcing the allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the construction of roads in rural areas, he revealed the government’s decision to release Rs 150 crore every month, from January to June, for the purpose.
Recalling that in the past, single and double lane roads were constructed in villages as per the requirements of the time, the CM directed the officials to increase the width of roads in the wake increased use of four-wheelers and tractors in rural areas.
The CM also said that the previous government, which upgraded hamlets into villages, failed to construct roads and school buildings.
He also said that single roads should be laid from villages to mandals and double lane roads from mandals to district headquarters.