Amaravati: The state has initiated urgent repairs on damaged Roads and Buildings (R&B) roads, addressing the potholes and poor conditions that have plagued many areas. On Wednesday, BC Janardhan Reddy, the newly appointed Minister of State Roads, Buildings, Investments, and Infrastructure, emphasized the need to restore roads swiftly during his first day in office.
Currently, 9,080 km of roads are in disrepair, with immediate actions planned for 8,161 km of main district roads and 3,340 km of state roads. The government has allocated Rs. 2,153 crores for these special repairs. Minister Reddy highlighted the importance of these repairs, especially with the threat of seasonal diseases in the monsoon backdrop. He assured that regular water quality tests and quality medical care would be provided to safeguard public health.
From 2014-19, Rs. 14,970 crores were allocated to the R&B department, of which Rs. 12,064 crores were utilized. However, from 2019-24, only Rs. 9,015 crores of the allocated Rs. 19,428 crores were spent. Additionally, Rs. 2,261 crores in unpaid bills from the previous government have caused significant issues for contractors.
Minister Reddy noted that the state has 8,164 km of National Highways and 12,653 km of state roads, among others, totaling 53,542 km. The lack of sufficient funds over the past five years has delayed necessary repairs. To address these issues, proposals for pothole filling and emergency repairs worth Rs. 284 crores are under review.
