PNS|Vijayawada
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has instructed officials to ensure that all road works across Andhra Pradesh are executed with top-class quality and completed within fixed timelines, particularly ahead of the monsoon season.
Chairing a high-level review meeting with the Roads & Buildings (R&B) Department at the Secretariat on Wednesday, the Chief Minister presented a comprehensive roadmap to upgrade the State’s road infrastructure to national standards.
Stressing the need for accountability and timeliness, Mr. Naidu said every road project must have a clearly defined timeline. “Deadlines are not optional, they are mandatory. Works must begin without delay and be completed before the monsoon to avoid inconvenience to the public and ensure safety,” he said.
Pointing out that Andhra Pradesh is gaining recognition as a leader in road construction, the Chief Minister underlined the importance of maintaining and expanding the road network. With 8,744 km of State and National Highways, he directed officials to make these roads exemplary on a national scale.
He also ordered the immediate upgrade of 2,683 km of severely damaged roads and instructed officials to urgently fill 304 vacant posts of Assistant Engineers in the R&B Department. He suggested utilising the services of qualified civil engineers working in village and ward secretariats to address the manpower shortage.
97% of pothole-free roads completed
Officials informed the Chief Minister that repair work on 20,060 km of roads, taken up under a Rs 860 crore project to make the roads pothole-free, has been 97 per cent completed. The remaining works are expected to be finished by the end of this month.
Further, 146 major road projects covering 3,510 km and worth Rs 78,295 crore are currently underway under the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH). In 2024–25, 22 projects spanning 546 km and costing Rs 11,682 crore have been completed. Another 46 projects, covering 1,186 km and costing Rs 47,788 crore, are scheduled for completion in 2025–26.
Reaffirming his government’s commitment to building a robust and future-ready road network, the Chief Minister said, “Quality infrastructure is the backbone of economic growth and public welfare. We will leave no stone unturned in transforming Andhra Pradesh into a model State for road development.”
