Govt. to go ahead with highway projects

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, SEPT. 3. An amount of Rs.226.30 crores is needed to restore on a permanent basis flood-damaged roads of the R and B department. Of this, the Government has already released Rs. 110 crores. The National Highways Authority has given Rs. 2 crores for immediate restoration of its roads in the State. Over Rs.30 crores is needed for temporary repairs of the damaged roads, according to the R and B Minister, Mr.K.Vijayarama Rao.

He told presspersons at Miryalguda (in Nalgonda district) after inspecting works, during a surprise visit, that repair works of roads throughout the State had commenced the day following torrential rain which hit 16 districts. Mr. Rao said despite the damage, all State highway projects and those being taken up with external aid would be continued.

The Minister showed to presspersons restoration work of the Huzurabad-Nalgonda PWD Road and the Miryalguda-Kodad road. A 60- metre breach to the Miryalguda-Kodad Road that had been temporarily filled with `moram' to enable movement of traffic on the busy stretch at Badalpur village. He also saw the yet to be completed repair work to the breach in the Huzurnagar-Nalgonda road which has helped vehicular traffic to move on either side. The Minister witnessed the use by R and B officials of nuclear density meter at Duppalapalli village which helps find the quality of material used in road-laying.

He explained that 4,362.10 km of road surface had been damaged in 16 districts following heavy rain. There were as many as 1,115 cuts along roads and 84 breaches. The number of culverts which collapsed was 32. There was damage to 468 culverts, but it did not affect movement of traffic. Of the 84 breaches, 79 had already been plugged. Those remaining to be completed were two in Karimnagar and one each in Krishna and Kurnool districts.

Referring to the damaged culverts on national highways, the Minister pointed out that already 25 had been restored. Work was on to repair seven - three each in Khammam and Prakasam districts and one in Nizamabad district.

The estimates of repair work required to be taken up on national highways would be prepared and posed for assistance to the Government of India.

The Minister said the project report had been prepared for the four-lane highway project on National Highway 9. Discussions were being held with the National Highway Authority in this regard. The project report of the outer ring road around Hyderabad was ready. Also under consideration was the Kakinada-Visakhapatnam industrial corridor. A consultant would be appointed for this work.

Mr. Rao was accompanied by Messrs N.S.Sinha, Director-General, National Academy of Construction, Murahari Reddy, Engineer-in- Chief, National Highway Administration, Rama Raju, Engineer-in- Chief, Roads, Mohan Rao, Chief Engineer, National Highways, Veerabhadraiah, SE, Kamalakar, SE (Nalgonda) and S. Srinivas, MLA (Miryalguda).

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