After June 30 next year, people travelling by road across Andhra Pradesh will have a smooth ride. The AP Road Sector Project being implemented by the State Government is rolling at a fast pace to meet the stipulated timeframe. The five-year-long World Bank-assisted project commenced in 2010 and will end on June 30 in 2015.
The AP Road Development Corporation (APRDC), established in 1998 with broad motive of development and maintenance of roads, is the implementing agency. The mega project involves various aligned government departments. “There is a road safety component called ‘Safe Roads Programme’ valued at Rs.54.74 crore. The Transport Department is the nodal agency for it. Another component ‘Black Spot Improvement’ which aims at identifying vulnerable places where maximum number of accidents occur, is estimated to cost Rs.21.36 crore. The Black Spot Improvement is being implemented by APRDC,” Additional Transport Commissioner, P. Srinivas told The Hindu on Saturday.
Pilot projectAs part of a pilot project, the Government has identified two ‘demo corridors’ for demonstration purpose. These corridors are 124.30-km-long Hyderabad-Bijapur road and139-km-long Renigunta-Rayalacheruvu stretch.
Aligned departments such as Police, Medical and Health, Education, Engineering, Road and Buildings and Transport are working in tandem for effective implementation of the project.
Road Safety CellA Road Safety Cell has been created in the Transport Commissioner’s office with retired officials from engineering (civil), police and transport departments to monitor the cell. At the government-level, Special Chief Secretary (Transport) Lakshmi Parthasarathy will head an empowered committee to monitor the activities of various departments involved.
The APRDC has called tenders for procurement of equipment needed as per investment plans of the departments. “Once the project comes into effect, roads will be monitored 24x7, police personnel will be armed with speed laser guns to monitor speed besides equipment to check drunk driving.
“The Transport Department will be given vehicles for effective functioning and to check overloading of the passing vehicles,” said Mr. Srinivas.
The Medical and Health sector will set up trauma care centres in the nearest hospitals. They will be given ambulances to shift accident victims and make the best of the ‘Golden Hour’, the first hour after an accident.
APRDC and the R &B have jointly identified ‘Black Spots’ and are adopting a scientific approach to address the problem. “Based on the impact of this pilot programme, the Government will replicate it in other places,” says Mr. Srinivas.
