Andhra Pradesh Minister Promises Road Repairs on War Footing

Andhra Pradesh R&B Minister B C Janardhan Reddy announced that over 9,000 km of roads are in poor condition and pledged to repair them urgently. The minister revealed that only 46% of the allocated Rs 19,428 crore budget was spent, leading to unpaid contractor bills and neglected road maintenance.

In a significant development, Andhra Pradesh's Roads and Buildings (R&B) Minister B C Janardhan Reddy revealed pressing concerns regarding the state’s infrastructure. Reddy announced that over 9,000 km of roadways are in deplorable conditions, vowing to expedite repairs on a war footing.

The minister's remarks came as he assumed office at the state secretariat, emphasizing the immediate objective to render the affected roads pothole-free urgently. He disclosed plans to rehabilitate 8,161 km of district roads and 3,340 km of state highways, addressing a critical infrastructure gap.

Notably, Reddy criticized the previous YSRCP administration for insufficient budget allocations and spending inefficiencies. Between 2019 and 2024, only 46%—Rs 9,015 crore—of the Rs 19,428 crore earmarked for road and building projects were utilized, leaving a trail of unpaid contractor bills amounting to Rs 2,261 crore. This financial mismanagement, he noted, has deterred contractors, complicating efforts to revive the road network.