Centre Okays Conversion of 650-km State Roads Into National Highways in Telangana

24 Aug, 2016 13:09 IST|Sakshi

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao has taken initiative on developing road infrastructure in the State. As a result, the government could double the length of National Highways to 2,600km within a short span of two years with the cooperat

New Delhi: Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has agreed a proposal by Telangana government on the conversion of 650-km length State roads into National Highways. With this, the total stretch of National Highways in Telangana will be 2,600 km.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao has been taking several measures as part of his vision of Bangaru Telangana. As a result, the the government could double the length of National Highways to 2,600km within a short span of two years with the cooperation of the Centre. Whereas, the total length of Highways in the undivided AP was 2,600 km.

The present stretches to be National Highways include Sangareddy (NH-161), Narsapur- Toopran- Gajwel- Jagdevpur- Bhongir- Choutuppal (NH-65), Choutuppal- Ibrahimpatnam- Amangal- Shadnagar- Chevella-Shankarpally- Kandi, Medak- Siddipet- Elkaturthy and Junction at Out Ring Road of Hyderabad- Valigonda- Thorrur- Nellikuduru- Mahabubabad- Yellandu- Kothagudem.

Union Minister of State for Labour and Employment B Dattatreya, Telangana Roads and Buildings Minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao and TRS MP G Vinod Kumar said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao had proposed to the Centre for upgrade of State roads of 650-km length and took up the matter with Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari. Tummala Nageshwara Rao and Vinod Kumar along with Bandaru Dattatreya called on the Union Minister Gadkari on Tuesday and sought the approval for conversion of state roads of 650km into National Highways and got the assurance.

The present stretches to be National Highways include Sangareddy (NH-161), Narsapur- Toopran- Gajwel- Jagdevpur- Bhongir- Choutuppal (NH-65), Choutuppal- Ibrahimpatnam- Amangal- Shadnagar- Chevella-Shankarpally- Kandi, Medak- Siddipet- Elkaturthy and Junction at Out Ring Road of Hyderabad- Valigonda- Thorrur- Nellikuduru- Mahabubabad- Yellandu- Kothagudem.

The Centre’s attention was drawn to the proposals worth Rs 600 crore of additional works under the Central Road Fund (CRF) Scheme too, they said adding that the Centre had been earlier given a proposal for approval of 61 works under the scheme at a cost of Rs 830 crore. The Centre later directed the State to prioritise works up to Rs 309.65 crore. In January, the union minister promised that 1,800 kilometre National Highways would be laid in Telangana at an estimated cost of Rs 43,000 crore.

Later, Nitin Gadkari raised the allocation to Rs 1,000 crore under the scheme and had asked the State government to submit the proposals and it was done accordingly. Ministers from Telangana have also appealed to the Minister to communicate administrative approval to the proposals under the National Green Highway Policy for Rs 1,153 crore for planting and developing eco-friendly greening on NH corridor in Telangana at the earliest. They submitted proposals for works worth Rs 902 crore under road safety scheme too.