1,302-km roads damaged by Cyclone Murasu in state: Min

Amaravati: Severe cyclone Murasu has damaged 1,302 km of roads under the roads and buildings (R&B) department across Andhra Pradesh, roads and buildings minister B C Janardhan Reddy said.

Bapatla district suffered the maximum damage, with 332 km of roads affected, followed by Guntur with 266 km, NTR district with 202 km, West Godavari with 122 km, Palnadu with 93 km, Eluru with 75 km, East Godavari with 68 km, Nellore with 66 km, Krishna with 59 km and Prakasam with 17 km. The minister said roads were eroded at 158 locations, of which restoration works had been completed at 141 places. Of the 31 locations where roads were washed away, restoration was completed at 30.

Similarly, culvert works were damaged at 60 locations, with repairs completed at 58 places.

The department also cleared fallen trees at all 207 locations to restore normal traffic movement.

Heavy rains caused traffic disruptions at 120 locations, of which problems were resolved at 116 places.

Excessive floodwater severely disrupted traffic at four locations in East Godavari, Eluru and NTR districts, he added.

The minister said preliminary estimates indicated that Rs 98.70 crore would be required for temporary restoration of damaged roads, while permanent restoration would require Rs. 772.22 crore.

The total estimated expenditure for restoring the damaged R&B roads across the state tands at Rs. 870.90 crore, he said.

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