KCR calls on Nitin Gadkari to discuss highway projects

New Delhi: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao, who is on a visit to Delhi since September 1, met Union minister for road transport and highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday and sought clearances and funds for various road and highway projects in Telangana state.

The Chief Minister submitted five representations to Gadkari on the occasion which include seeking approval for realignment of northern part of Regional Ring Road (RRR) project in Hyderabad, approval for southern part of RRR, expansion of Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway (NH-65) into six-lane and Hyderabad (ORR) to Kalwakurthy (NH-765) into four-lane, upgradation of four more state highways as national highways and release of pending Central Road and Infrastructure Funds (CRIF).

Rao thanked Gadkari for sanctioning the 158-km southern part of RRR (Sangareddy-Gajwel-Choutuppal) under Bharatmala Pariyogana. "The alignment of RRR was proposed in 2018. However, during the past three years, certain development works have been taken up by the state government, namely Gajwel Ring Road and Baswapur Reservoir as part of Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project. Keeping this in view, we have suggested some modifications to the NHAI in the alignment from Gajwel to Yadadri and the same may be considered and requested," the Chief Minister said in his representation.

For the southern part of RRR spread over 182-km (Choutuppal-Shadnagar-Sangareddy), the state government submitted alignment proposals and traffic data along with necessary clarifications sought by the Centre. It is requested to sanction the southern part of RRR also at an early date as the completion of both the sections is essential for seamless flow of national highway traffic from north to south and east to west, which will benefit traffic of not only Telangana but also of Maharashtra, AP, Karnataka etc, the Chief Minister noted.

Referring to Hyderabad-Vijayawada highway, Rao said, "This was four-laned in 2012 under BOT (toll). As per the agreement with the concessionaire, GMR Hyderabad-Vijayawada Expressways Ltd, the six-laning of this high traffic corridor is to be completed by April
2024. As per the state PWD reports, the present traffic on this highway is more than 40,000 PCUs (passenger car units). However, it is learnt that the concessionaire has raised a dispute and not showing any inclination to take up six-laning. It is requested to look into the above matter and help in taking up six-laning of this very important corridor, which is a vital link between the capitals of two Telugu states."
The Chief Minister sought upgradation of four state highways over an extent of 442 kilometres as national highways which include 182-km long Choutuppal-Amangal-Shadnagar-Kandi (part of RRR), Karimnagar-Sircilla-Kamareddy-Yellareddy-Pitlam (165-km), Kothakota-Gudur up to Mantralayam (70-km) and Zaheerabad-Bidar-Deglur (25-km).

Thanking Gadkari for notifying the new national highway from Kalwakurthy in Telangana to Nadyanl in AP, via Kolhapur, Somasila and Karivena as NH-167K, Rao said with a new bridge across river Krishna at Somasila would reduce the distance between Hyderabad and Tirupati, Chennai etc by about 80-kms.

"The newly declared 167K takes off at km 67/0 of NH 765 near Kalwakurthy. The NH-765 connects Hyderabad with the famous Jyothirlinga at Srisailam. The present traffic up to Kalwakurthy on NH-765 is about 14,000 PCUs and the traffic will further increase manifold once Kalwakurthy-Karivena section of NH-167K is developed. Keeping this in view, it is essential to develop the existing two-lane paved shoulder highway from Hyderabad (ORR) to Kalwakuthy (NH-765) to four-lane standards. It is requested to approve the same at the earliest," the Chief Minister stated.

Rao brought to notice of Gadkari that the Telangana government submitted proposals to the Centre for Development of State Roads under CRIF for 2021 with an outlay of Rs 744 crore. However, the Centre is allocating only Rs 250 crore per year to Telangana.

He requested Gadkari to sanction pending CRIF funds and increase allocation of funds under CRIF to complete the approved road projects under CRIF within two financial years (2021-22 and 2022-23).