AP gets 65,000-cr Central aid

Gadkari lays stone for Kanaka Durga, Benz circle flyovers in Vijayawada

Vijayawada: The decade-old dream of the people of Vijayawada has finally come true with Union Minister for Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Nitin Gadkari laying foundation stone for two flyovers in Vijayawada city, including one at Kanaka Durga temple.

Announcing sanction of Rs 65,000 crore for various road projects in the state, Gadkari on Saturday said the Central government would release funds once the state government sends detailed project reports. The minister also laid foundation stone for four-laning of Vijayawada-Machilipatnam road, upgradation of Ibrahimpatnam-Chandragudem road and upgradation of Kattipudi – Kakinada road.

The Union minister also agreed to sanction funds for the proposed 180-km outer ring road for Amaravati capital and asked Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu to develop green highway to get one per cent of the funds for developing plantation along the highways.

Expressing concern over increasing accidents in the country, the minister said that 5 lakh accidents and 1.5 lakh deaths are being reported every year in the country causing a loss of Rs 50,000 crore. He attributed the cause of accidents to bogus driving licences. Over 30 per cent of licences are bogus, he added. He said the government is planning to enact New Motor Vehicle Act and open training centres for drivers. He said that there was 22 per cent of shortage of drivers in the country.

While stressing the need for developing inland waterways, he said the waterways were neglected in the country which stands at 3 per cent as against 47 per cent in European countries. He said the waterways could bring down the transport cost to 25 paise while road transport costs Rs 1.5 per km.

Gadkari said that 30 water ports would be developed between Ganga and Haldia.

He said survey of Buckingham canal would be completed by December 2016. He stressed the need for improving water transport, including sea planes. He said the Central government is ready to bear fifty per cent of the cost if the state governments extend cooperation for dredging in the rivers.

Speaking on the occasion, the Chief Minister said the flyover at Durga temple would be completed before the start of Krishna pushkaraalu. He said that roads and ports would be developed to place the state in top position. He said a straight road should be laid connecting Amaravati capital to Anantapur and Bangalore with a connection to Kadapa and Kurnool for easy access to capital for the people of Rayalaseema. He said his government would prepare a blue print for the proposed projects within a month to get necessary clearances from the Union minister.

Vijayawada MP Kesineni Srinivas presided over the meeting, while Union ministers M Venkaiah Naidu and Y Sujana Chowdary and state ministers addressed the meeting. Mayor Koneru Sridhar, MLC Budha Venkanna, West MLA Jaleel Khan and others were present.