Andhra Pradesh Transport and R & B Minister Sidda Raghavarao has set an ambitious target to rid the roads of pot-holes in the State within two months.
Speaking to media persons here on Wednesday on the occasion of completion of 100-day rule, he said going forward an action plan with estimates would be prepared to take up road repairs, widening of roads, identification of accident prone black spots. Providing road connectivity to all villages, mandals and districts would remain government’s top priority, he said.
A Rs.32-crore Demo Corridor project between Renigunta and Kadapa and Renigunta and Ravula Cheruvu funded by World Bank would be taken up to provide trauma care hospitals and other measures to provide immediate medical care in case of road accidents.
A road safety awareness drive was also launched jointly by the Transport, R&B and Police departments and radium plates and boards were being installed in black spots. A driving and research institute would also be set up to promote safe driving, he said.
Apart from conversion of 500 km of State highways into National Highways which was sanctioned by the Centre, proposals were sent for conversion of another 800 km of State highways. A decision was taken to convert bus stations in Visakhapatnam, Guntur and Tirupati into modern bus cum commercial complexes.
The Minister announced that he would call for a meeting of private operators running contract carriages and warn them against steep increase of bus fares as was the practice before Dasara. Licences of operators who operate the directive would be withdrawn, he said. Replying to a question, he said 460 school buses without fitness certificates were cancelled.
