Andhra gets Rs 1,780 cr for fresh road projects

The Government of India has sanctioned fresh road projects in Andhra Pradesh to the tune of Rs 1,780 crore.

Announcing the road projects, T R Baalu, Union minister for shipping, road transport and highways, said that the state would get 560 km of fresh roads in the next three years.

"These projects will be completed in a three-year period, by 2007," Baalu said at a press conference here in the city. Chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was also present at the press conference.

The projects that were announced include the four-laning of the remaining 176 km stretch between Hyderabad and Vijayawada at a cost of Rs 860 crore, the four-laning of the 42 km long Kadapa-Mydukur road, laying of 158 km long two-lane road between Mydukur and Kurnool and a five-km Kasipet four-lane bypass at a total cost of Rs 280 crore.

The other projects that he announced include a four-lane road between Vijayawada and Machilipatnam at a cost of Rs 300 crore, 60 km long four-lane road between Tiruthani and Tirupathi at a cost of Rs 205 crore, a 50 km-long Hyderabad-Yadagiri Gutta two-lane road at a cost of Rs 50 crore and a bridge on the Vainateya river in East Godavari district with a cost of around Rs 50 crore.

The Union minister has also announced that his ministry has in-principle agreed that the proposal by chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy almost like another ring road around the Hyderabad city on a 50:50 cost sharing basis.

According to the minister, the government will soon conduct a pre-bid evaluation of the project to ascertain the cost and other implications concerning the proposal.

The minister also disclosed that the chief minister has agreed to the deferment or waiver of dues amounting to about Rs 45.5 crore.

On account of sales tax from the Hindusthan Ship Yard Corporation paving the way for its revival.

"Proposals pertaining to the revival package for the Hindusthan Shipyard would soon be placed before the Union cabinet," T R Baalu said. The Union ministry is also planning to organise six to seven regional workshops and seminars on the proposed maritime policy. One such seminar would be organised in Vizag, the minister said.