The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Tuesday directed the Roads and Buildings Department to prepare an action plan for the road sector development in the State.

Following a review meeting of the department at Secretariat today, he said that road connectivity forms the very basis of economic and social development and the Government will ensure adequate fund flows for the sector.

Budget allocation

Mentioning that the proportionate budget allocation for roads in the State was inadequate, he said he would take up with the Centre for more funds for R&B works under various Central schemes such as the Prime Minister's Grameen Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) and under the projects to develop the National Highways.

He mooted a separate Corporation to take up and reconstruct various dilapidated and old R&B structures and buildings in different parts of the State.

He wanted the State officials to prepare the State road development plans to fit into various Government of India programmes, which will ensure the State secures more funds from the Centre.

During the review, the Department officials highlighted that the State has as total stretch of 70,394 km, of this the National Highways constitutes 4,730 km.

The Chief Minister asked the R&B Department to prepare a detailed report for deploying about Rs 225 crore in repair works during the current fiscal.

The Centre has identified Khammam and Adilabad districts for Special Development Plan under Left Wing Extremism (LWE). He said the State Government has taken up with the Centre cover for more districts under central funding.

The State is poised to take up conversion of 6,571 km of State Highways into National Highways, explore the possibility of bringing more roads under PPP by persuading the Centre and Planning Commission to enhance the viability gap ceiling.

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