The state of roads in the twin cities and public criticism finally reached Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao. On Thursday, after meeting GHMC officials, he directed them to take up road repairs within 10 days and complete them in a month.
Pointing out that roads in many areas were damaged due to rains, Mr. Rao asserted that these needed to be repaired. Tenders should be floated online and work entrusted quickly. Even at places where metro work is on, GHMC officials should have a dialogue with officials concerned and make arrangements to undertake repairs. All the roads handed over by the Roads and Buildings Department to the municipal corporation should be revamped using modern technology. About 1,000 km of roads should be black-topped and 400 km roads should be done up with white cement at a total cost of Rs.500 crore. The Chief Minister’s meeting was attended by R&B Minister Tummala Nageswar Rao, CM’s PS S. Narsing Rao, GHMC Commissioner Somesh Kumar, engineering chief Dhan Singh and others.
While reviewing illegal constructions, Mr. Rao wanted the GHMC to form flying squads directly under the Commissioner to put a stop to illegal constructions. He lamented that despite the Building Penalisation Scheme and Layout Regularisation Scheme, unauthorised constructions continued.
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The Chief Minister has also agreed in principle for going in for a nominal imposition of property tax, not exceeding Rs. 101 for about five lakh houses.