Centre’s support to A.P. continues, says Gadkari

‘State has potential for development on all fronts’

Connectivity matters: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari laying the foundation stone for national highways, at Akiveedu in West Godavari district on Monday.

Expressing satisfaction over the progress of the Polavaram irrigation project, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Water Resources Nitin Gadkari on Monday said that the Centre would continue to extend its support to the development of Andhra Pradesh notwithstanding the political affiliation of the ruling party. He said that the Centre would bear the total expenditure of the Polavaram project, besides funding other irrigation projects.

“The Centre has extended financial support to take up irrigation projects and to improve road network in the State. There is no doubt that the support will be continued and the State will be developed on all fronts,” he said while addressing a public meeting at the Zilla Parishad High School here.

Mr. Gadkari laid the foundation stone for 32 National Highways and seven railway overbridges in the State with an expected outlay of ₹16,878 crore from the venue. In all, 1,384-km long road network would be improved in the State once the projects got completed. “Development of any region is solely dependent on the road network. Without improving the roads, we can’t achieve development. In the last four-and-a-half years, about 3,200-km long new roads have been developed in the State,” he said, adding that the plan was to develop Visakhapatnam-Chennai industrial corridor to attract investments and to improve employment generation in the region.

Observing that the State had potential to develop as number one in all segments, the Union Minister said that there was no compromise with regard to the development of the State and the politics would not deter the development.

Pat from Ayyanna

Roads and Buildings Minister Ch. Ayyanna Patrudu thanked Mr. Gadkari for supporting the State in developing road network in 90% of the villages in the State.

Observing that Mr. Gadkari was a leader with vision and commitment, he said that there was no doubt about the fulfilment of assurances made to the State. He further said that the Amaravathi-Anantapur road would become a role model to the road networks in the days to come. Parliament Members Gokaraju Gangaraju, M. Murali Mohan, BJP State unit president Kanna Lakshmi Narayana and other leaders were present.