Telangana gets Rs. 1,000 cr for New Highways

In a major booster to the state road network, the transport ministry has recently agreed to convert the 650-km length State roads in Telangana into National Highways taking the total stretch of National Highways in the State to 2,600 km. The total length of Highways in the Telangana region of the undivided AP was 2,600 km whereas in the last two years after the formation of Telangana, the government doubled the same with the cooperation of the Centre. The present stretches to be upgraded are: Sangareddy (NH-161), Narsapur- Toopran- Gajwel- Jagdevpur- Bhongir- Choutuppal (NH-65), Choutuppal- Ibrahimpatnam- Amangal- Shadnagar- Chevella-Shankarpally- Kandi, Medak- Siddipet- Elkaturthy, and Junction at Out Ring Road of Hyderabad- Valigonda-Thorrur- Nellikuduru- Mahabubabad- Yellandu- Kothagudem. The Centre's attention was drawn to the proposals of Rs. 600 crore of additional works under the Central Road Fund (CRF) Scheme, sources said, adding that the Centre had been earlier given a proposal for approval of 61 works under the scheme at a cost of Rs. 830cr. The Centre later directed the State to prioritise works upto Rs. 309.65cr. Later, the ministry raised the allocation to Rs. 1,000-cr under the scheme and had asked the State government to submit the proposals, which resulted in increasing the NH length in the state.