Blacktop roads in rural areas planned

The state government is planning to transform all the rural roads in the state into blacktop roads in the next three years at an estimated cost of over Rs 2,000 crore.

Addressing a press conference on the eve of his government completing one year in office, Jakkampudi Rama Mohan Rao, minister for roads and buildings (R&B), said that Nabard has agreed to provide a loan assistance of Rs 1,500 crore for the purpose in a span of two years.

The minister said that his government has sanctioned over Rs 650 crore worth road works in one year while the previous government could spend only Rs 648 crore on the development of roads in a five-year period.

According to him, the department has drawn up plans to convert about 1,170-km-long rural roads into blacktop roads during the current financial year. The total length of rural roads in the state is estimated to be 18,238 km.

Besides exploring various ways to mobilise necessary resources for strengthening road network in the state, the government has also urged the Government of India to increase the allocation under the Central Road Fund (CRF) from the existing Rs 70 crore to Rs 150 crore, according to the minister.

He also said that over 28 guest houses, owned by his department, have been identified for privatisation.

"In fact, I have asked the officials to identify some more guest houses to hand over to private managements to improve facilities and maintenance," the minister told reporters.