Chief Secretary K. Vijayanand has directed district collectors, joint collectors, and officials from relevant departments to expedite the land
acquisition process for the construction and expansion of national highways and bypass roads across Andhra Pradesh. During a video
conference held on Tuesday with officials from the Revenue, Forest, Transport, Roads and Buildings (TR&B), National Highways
Authority of India (NHAI), and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Vijayanand emphasised the importance of completing the
process swiftly to avoid project delays.
Highlighting the critical role of land acquisition in the timely execution of highway projects, the Chief Secretary instructed district collectors and joint collectors to prioritise this task. He stressed that prompt action would ensure that the required land is handed over to construction agencies without unnecessary delays.
The Chief Secretary also conducted a district-wise review of pending land acquisition and forest clearance issues with the officials. He underscored the need to adhere to regulations by providing adequate compensation to farmers while ensuring the process is completed within the stipulated timeframe. To address challenges related to the projects efficiently, Vijayanand called for better coordination among the Revenue, Forest, TR&B, NHAI,
and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways departments. Key officials, including Chief Commissioner of Land Administration (CCLA) G. Jayalakshmi, TR&B Principal Secretary Kantilal Dande, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) Rahul Pandey, NHAI Regional Officer R.K. Singh, and Ministry of Road Transport and Highways Regional Officer Rakesh Kumar, participated in the meeting. District Collectors and Joint Collectors also joined the video conference virtually.