NEW DELHI: The hurdles for the declaration of Regional Ring Road (RRR)-southern part (Chautuppal-Amangal-Shadnagar-Sangareddy on 182 km stretch ) have been removed. Following the recent announcement of RRR –Northern part as a national highway, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy requested Union Minister for Road Transport and National Highways Nitin Gadkari to upgrade RRR southern part as a national highway too. Soon after the meeting, the Union Minister instructed the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) officials to prepare proposals to declare the southern section of RRR as a national highway.

Apart from the RRR issue, Revanth Reddy appealed to Nitin Gadkari to grant permission for the expansion of national highways in Telangana and to upgrade several important state highways to national highways. The Chief Minister handed over the list of state roads which should be expanded as national highways to the Union Minister and explained the importance of declaring those roads as national highways.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister brought to the attention of the Union Minister the challenges faced in the expansion of national highways and national highway works in the state. Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, State Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, R and B Secretary Srinivasa Raju and Telangana Bhavan ( New Delhi ) resident commissioner Gaurav Uppal also participated in the meeting. Revanth and Gadkari discussed the dispute between the Centre and State Government regarding the removal of utilities (electricity poles, buildings etc.) in the limits of Ring Road (RRR) Northern Part covering Choutuppal-Bhuvanagiri-Toopran-Sangareddy-Kandi.

About 10 months ago, NHAI officials had suggested that the cost of relocation of utilities should be borne by the State Government. As it did not agree to the NHAI’s condition, a standoff continued on this issue.

After assuming charge as Chief Minister, Revanth Reddy sent a letter to the NHAI agreeing to bear the cost of relocation of utilities. The Chief Minister mentioned the issue before Nitin Gadkari in the meeting. The Union Minister inquired about the issue with NHAI officials and expressed his anger for asking the State Government to bear the cost. Gadkari said that If the State Government bore the cost of relocation of utilities, half of the toll revenue would have to be paid to the State Government. Gadkari assured that the Centre would bear the cost of relocation of utilities. The Union Minister told the Chief Minister to speed up the land acquisition and procedural processes related to the construction of the RRR.

Revanth Reddy also requested the Union Minister to approve the proposal to widen the national highway from Hyderabad to Vijayawada to six lanes and the road from Hyderabad to Kalwakurthy as a four lane highway. Nitin Gadkari responded positively to look into the Chief Minister’s appeal.

On this occasion, the Union Minister also suggested to the Chief Minister to send necessary proposals for the grant of CRIF (Construction of Rural Infrastructure Fund).

Details of the proposals to upgrade as National Highways submitted by Revanth Reddy

1. Marikal-Narayanapet-Ramasamudra-63 km.

2. Peddapalli-Kataram-66 km

3. Pullur-Alampur-Jataprolu- Pentlavelli-Kollapur-Lingal-Achampeta-Dindi-Devarakonda-Mallepalli-Nalgonda-225 km.

4. Wanaparthy-Kothakota-Gadwal- Mantralayam-110 km.

5. Manneguda-Vikarabad-Tandur- Zaheerabad-Bidar-134 km.

6. Karimnagar-Siricilla-Kamareddy- Yellareddy-Pitlam-165 km.

7. Yerravelli Cross Road-Gadwal-Raichur-67 km.

8. Jagityala-Peddapally-Kalva Srirampur-Kishtampet-Kalvapally-Moranchapally-Ramappa Temple-Jangalapally-164 km.

9. Sarapaka-Eturunagaram-93 km

10. Duddeda-Komuravelli-Yadagirigutta- Rayagiri Crossroad-63 km.

11. Jaggaiahpet-Wyra-Kothagudem-100 km.

12. Sircilla-Vemulawada-Korutla-65 km

13. Bhootpur-Nagarkurnool-Mannanur- Maddimadugu (Telangana)- Gangalakunta-Sirigiripadu-166 km.

14.Karimnagar-Rayapatnam-60 km