State’s apathy towards cyclone-hit roads

State’s apathy towards  cyclone-hit roads
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State’s apathy towards cyclone-hit roads, cyclone-hit roads. The department got a raw deal in the allocation of funds meant for the development of infrastructure in the cyclone-affected districts this year, they added.

  • A study report claims 4,000 km of roads in 10 districts are in a bad state
  • State needs Rs 1,000 crore for restoration of roads

Hyderabad: Roads badly-hit by the cyclones and floods are still in a pathetic condition and need immediate funds from State and Central governments for repair works. The State had to face a series of cyclones - Phailin, Lehar and Helen and floods that wreaked havoc this year.

The Roads & Buildings department, in a report to the government, claimed that a 4,000 km stretch of roads in 10 districts were in a bad state. The R & B Department is yet to get funds from the government to take up works for repairing the road surface. According to preliminary estimates, it requires around Rs 1,000 crore to repair the damaged roads and the department has urged the government to release Rs 500 crore immediately.

According to reports around 1,000 km stretch of roads were damaged in East and West Godavari districts, 800 km of road in Srikakulam, 700 km in Vizianagaram , 900 km in Nalgonda and 650 km in Mahbubnagar district.

The road network in the villages and mandal headquarters was completely damaged in these districts.

In a survey conducted by the department, it was found that some 2,000 km of roads were left damaged partially and another 1,000 km stretch had developed craters and potholes due to heavy rains. The officials said so far the department managed to undertake repair works to fill the potholes only with the available funds.

The department got a raw deal in the allocation of funds meant for the development of infrastructure in the cyclone-affected districts this year, they added.

The officials stated that only Rs 100 crore was released for the repair of the damaged roads. The delay in the release of funds from the Centre under Central Calamity Fund for the repairs was also one of the reasons for the tardy progress in the restoration of roads.

R & B Engineer- in- Chief S Rama Murthy said that the department apprised the government of the conditions of the roads and its impact on vehicular traffic and sought immediate release of funds.

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